Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s biggest shipbuilder, said today it clinched a USD 1.12 billion order to build two drillships for drilling contractor Rowan Companies Inc. on May 31. This contract also includes an option exercisable by Rowan to order an additional same class drillship.
The vessels, measuring 229 meters in length and 36 meters in width, are rated for operations in water 12,000 ft (3,657 m) deep. They are scheduled to be delivered by the second half of 2013.
Winning this order brings Hyundai Heavy’s total drillship new orders this year to 9, worth USD 5 billion with options to build three more drillships. This is the most drillships of any shipbuilder in the world.
The drillships will be equipped with a thruster canister, saving time in maintenance and operating costs. A thruster canister is housing for the thruster, which helps keep the ship in position while it is drilling. Ships with a canister do not need to be drydocked for maintenance as the thruster can be lifted onto the ship when work needs to be carried out.
Drillships Hyundai Heavy builds use the drillship-specific Gusto P10000 design making the best use of vessel space for drilling. The design helps stabilize the drillship while operating and uses less fuel by making thrusters operate less. A position controlling system, a computer propulsion system, and seven blowout preventers will also be installed in the drillships to enhance safety.
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Source: HHI, June 1, 2011.