SOBRENA of France, the Brest-based ship repairer, has won its largest-yet contract - to convert the a semi-submersible accommodation platform Polycastle , into a dynamically positioned platform in accordance with Norwegian Maritime Directorate Class 3, the highest grade of safety in offshore structures. The contract price represents about one-third of the yard's annual turnover of 200 million francs (about HK$288 million). The work will be carried out at Sobrena's Dock Number 3 over 41/2-months starting in November. The platform is owned by the Ramussen Group in Kritiansand, Norway. Sobrena, represented in Hong Kong by Electech Services, has repaired two shuttle tankers also owned by the Rasmussen group. The yard has just completed the block booking contract to repair five vessels owned by Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a new customer for the yard. The five ships are Atlantic Conveyor, Atlantic Cartier, Companion Express, Concert Express and Compass which each have a container capacity of 2,908 TEUs (20 ft equivalent units) or space for 1103 cars and 208 trailers. There is a programme of routine repairs but so far the largest item has been the painting of the hull and cargo spaces of the ships. The ACL block booking followed an earlier four-ship contract for SCAC Delmas Vieljeiux, which is managed by Francaise de Services Maritime.
