Drydocks, OIM to finalize rig construction contract in March

Drydocks World, the UAE-based provider of maritime and offshore services to the shipping, oil, gas and energy sectors, held its first joint workshop on January 21-22, 2014, which was organized following the recent signing of Letter of Intent (LOI) with Offshore Innovation Management Ltd., to build a series of AJ 62-X135 series of multi-purpose (accommodation & construction) Jack-Up rigs.

Senior delegates from Offshore Innovation Management (Owners), GustoMSC (Designer and supplier of Jacking & Fixation system) Markhus AS (Accommodation specialist) DNV (Classification Society) and Drydocks World (Construction yard) attended the workshop. The attendees included Oddgeir Indrestrand, CEO, and Sturla Fjoran, COO, Offshore Innovation Management; John Inge Markhus, MD, Markhus Asia, Rene’ van Rossum, Project Manager, Gusto MSC, Rajesh Panicker, DNV GL, Gerben Roks, Products & Sales Manager – Cranes and Jan Thore Lygren, Business Development Manager – Cranes with Huisman.

Eng. Ali AlSuwaidi, VP – Commercial, Business Development & Project Management at Drydocks World said, “We have continued to build on our successful strategy of taking on a leadership role in providing value addition to the offshore sector. Drydocks World is joining with partners in putting the specifications and final details of the rig. The shipyard is contributing its construction experience and engineering capabilities to the owners and other rig’s main designers and seeks to overcome the construction challenges and come up with a building philosophy that suits the owner and its usage environment. This workshop is the start and there will be several more in line with achieving the milestones for delivering this project.”

“We have taken heed of the fact that there has been a surge in recent demand for higher specification jack-ups for operation in deepwater and there has been additional growth in areas such as those adjoining the United Kingdom and Norway. We are well-equipped to handle projects that involve a high level of sophistication such as the AJ 62-X135 type rigs, which are one of the largest, and are in touch with industry needs,” he added.

Related: Drydocks to Build Jack-Up Unit for Offshore Innovation Management Ltd.

The discussions points at the workshop included the standards to be followed based on the stringent requirement of operating the accommodation rig in North Sea and UK waters, the construction methodology of the rig, detailed schedule considering the time for production engineering and long lead items in the yard, the involvement and responsibility of the various parties. Various technical issues related the platform engineering, procurement and construction, design and outfitting of the living quarters fit for 490 persons and the 3000-tonne crane were also discussed and agreements reached. The forum also discussed the requirement to provide an absolutely dust free environment for the outfitting works on the living quarters in order to meet the requirements of Norsok standards.

Delivery in 2016

As a result of the joint workshop a clear way forward with key dates for all major milestones was agreed between the parties. Drydocks World Engineering Department is now developing the final Technical specification of the platform in conjunction with the owners and designers and is planning to conclude the Rig Building Contract with OIM by March 2014 followed by an immediate Contract award to its major Subcontractors.

The projects will start in 2014 and the first rig is expected to be delivered in 2016. With the availability of adequate capacities and capabilities in the form of approximately 10,000 own and 3000 sub-contracted manpower, large panel line workshop, panel assembly & grand assembly areas, covered and temperature controlled blasting and painting facility, a unique launching facility with 8000-tonne skidding capacity, and a 2000-tonne lifting capacity shear leg floating crane, the yard is fully geared up to commence this challenging project.