MODEC, Inc. has announced that the FPSO Baobab Ivoirien safely restarted oil production on June 4, 2026, following the completion of a major life extension and refurbishment campaign carried out in Dubai. The Tokyo-based company said the vessel was delivered to its client on schedule after more than 6.7 million man-hours worked without a Lost Time Injury.

Vessel Returns to Service at Baobab Field

The FPSO operates at the Baobab field, located approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. After completing the refurbishment work in Dubai, the vessel sailed back to West Africa, where it was reconnected, commissioned, and prepared for start-up operations.

MODEC described the restart of production as the successful conclusion of what it characterised as a complex transformation, as well as the beginning of a new chapter for the Baobab field.

The life extension and refurbishment campaign was designed to extend the service life of the FPSO and enhance its long-term operability.

MODEC held responsibility for the overall project execution throughout the campaign.

Ownership Transfer Preceded Refurbishment Completion

A significant structural change in the commercial arrangement around the vessel occurred before production resumed. In February 2025, MODEC transferred ownership of the FPSO to CNR International (Côte d'Ivoire) S.A.R.L., the company's client on the project, and concluded its charter contract with that counterparty at the same time.

The vessel was renamed FPSO Baobab Ivoirien upon the completion of that sale. Despite the transfer of ownership, MODEC retained an operational role on the asset.

The company continues to provide operation and maintenance services for the FPSO, with that arrangement currently scheduled to run through December 2026.

Safety Performance Highlighted Across Campaign

MODEC placed particular emphasis on the safety record achieved across the refurbishment programme. The company reported that more than 6.7 million man-hours were worked during the campaign without a single Lost Time Injury. The on-schedule delivery of the vessel to CNR International was also cited as a marker of the project's execution quality.

The reconnection and commissioning phase following the FPSO's return to Côte d'Ivoire represented the final stage of the campaign before production could be restarted.

MODEC's June 16 announcement confirmed that all of those steps had been completed successfully ahead of the June 4 production restart date.