DP World subsidiary set to refurbish African FPSO

A floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel will be transferred in Q2 2025 from west Africa to the United Arab Emirates for a major refurbishment project in Dubai, and then mobilised back again in 2026.

Drydocks World, a DP World subsidiary, has secured a contract from FPSO owner, Modec Management Services, to upgrade Baobab Ivoirien during an eight-month project, starting in May 2025.

This project will involve extensive structural enhancements and refurbishments of accommodation and new piping to extend the FPSO’s life for another 15 years.

These works will include 1,000 tonnes of steel renewal, 250,000 m² of tank coating, 11,500 m of new piping and installation of new technologies to boost the FPSO’s efficiency and reliability

Baobab Ivoirien can process 70,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 75M ft³ of natural gas, inject 100,000 bpd of water and store up to 2M barrels of crude oil.

It was originally converted in 2003 from an ultra large crude carrier (ULCC) and produces and exports oil from the Baobab field, 25 km off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire.

“The vessel’s deepwater operations demand precise refurbishment and life-extension measures to overcome complex engineering and operational challenges, while ensuring efficiency and long-term safety,” said Modec Management Services president, Gary Kennedy.

Drydocks World has completed over 50 vessel refurbishments, life extensions and conversions, including more than 30 FPSO upgrades.