BANDAR ABBAS -- The largest and most equipped offshore living quarters platform in the Middle East has been constructed in Bandar Abbas as part of the first phase of the South Pars gas field project.

It was constructed by the Offshore Industries Co. (SAFF) under the joint supervision of the South Pars Oil and Gas and the Petropars companies.

The SPQ1 (South Pars Living Quarter 1) was constructed by Iranian experts.

The project was planned by the French company TECHNIP, under contract with Petropars.

Petropars, which is implementing the first phase of the South Pars gas field project, then contracted out buying, engineering, installation, and other services to a consortium of the Samsung and Sadra companies.

The fact that the SPQ1 was built in Iran saved the country about 25 million dollars.

The project is being carried out based on international standards, with constant technical supervision.

The SPQ1 was constructed in 24 months. About 500 experts in the fields of electronics, communications, architecture, installation of mechanical equipment, and air conditioning worked on the project.

The project was launched to provide a residential area for personnel in the South Pars Gas Field in order to avoid constant traveling from the sea to the mainland. The South Pars Gas Field is located 105 kilometers southwest of the port of Asalouyeh.

The SPQ1, which could be called a maritime hotel, will be able to accommodate 94 people.

Moreover, the platform will serve as a command center for providing emergency and other services to neighboring platforms.

The SPQl has air conditioning, bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, living rooms, a cinema, a fitness room, and offices.

The five-story platform is 34 meters long, 31 meters wide, and 22 meters in height and has a small heliport.

The 3800-ton platform will be transported from Bandar Abbas by an FLB-124 barge to the first phase of the South Pars Gas Field project in the near future.