From left: Keyfield International Bhd Group chief operating officer (COO) & executive director (ED) Mohd Erwan Ahmad, Keyfield International Bhd group CEO & ED Datuk Darren Kee, Helms Geomarine Sdn Bhd managing director (MD) Datuk Mohamad Helmi Zulkawi and Helms Geomarine general manager Mohamad Syahril Ikhwan at the handover ceremony of the Keyfield Helm 1 geotechnical vessel to Helms Geomarine for a three-plus-two-year charter contract beginning this month. (Photo by Suhaimi Yusuf/The Edge)

KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Oil-and-gas services firm Keyfield International Bhd (KL:KEYFIELD) delivered its Keyfield Helms 1 (KH1) geotechnical vessel to Helms Geomarine Sdn Bhd for a three-plus-two years charter contract.

The charter party agreement, signed in December 2023, will begin this month until end-June 2027, Keyfield said in a statement. KH1 will be utilised to primarily support Helms Geomarine which recently secured a three-year geotechnical investigation contract from Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

Additionally, the vessel will support Helms Geomarine’s long-term contracts with other oil majors in Malaysia and in Thailand.

"Recognising the evolving needs of the offshore industry, we made a strategic decision to convert KH1 into a dedicated geotechnical vessel," Keyfield group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Darren Kee said. KH1 was first chartered to Helms Geomarine in August 2021.

The conversion of KH1 into a geotechnical vessel will allow Keyfield to work closely with Helms Geomarine, a 100% bumiputera company, to meet Petronas' stringent requirements and “fill a crucial niche in the marketplace", he said.