A consortium of oil companies were developing the largest offshore project to date. The project was on an artificial Island in the Caspian Sea. An area where summer temperatures are over 40 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures go down to minus 40. The Caspian Sea is only accessible through channels, too narrow for normal accommodation barges. Being let down by its accommodation supplier, the consortium quickly needed another supplier. Saipem was in charge of finding the solution. Chevalier Floatels proposed conversion of river cruise ships with sea going registration. For the operation of the vessels in Kazachstan, Chevalier Floatels made a 50 %/50 % joint venture with a locally experienced company operate the vessels. Chevalier secured contracts for three rivercruiser which were then extensively converted. Because of time, the first vessel was converted in three months. Each vessel could accommodate 320 workers. Project was delivered on time and on budget.
As more accommodation was needed and no other vessels were suited, Chevalier Floatels together with shipyards developed new modular build vessels. The two vessel were built in little over 4 month and arrived 6 month later, on time and in budget at the site. At the end of the contract more then 2500 persons were accommodated by ship owning company.
