Newly named ‘Maersk Voyager’ drillship awaiting first job

Maersk Drilling’s fourth ultra deepwater drillship was named Thursday morning in a ceremony held at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in Geoje-Si, South Korea.

Lene Berg, wife of Gregers Kudsk, Vice President in Maersk Drilling, had the honour of naming the drillship Maersk Voyager.

Maersk Voyager is the fourth in a series of four ultra deepwater drillships. The four drillships were ordered in 2011 and represent a total investment of USD 2.6bn.

Maersk Voyager is scheduled to be delivered from SHI in Q4 2014. Maersk Voyager remains without a first contract.

“The short term floater market is challenged, but we remain in discussions with several oil companies regarding short term as well as long term drilling campaigns for the Maersk Voyager,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO in Maersk Drilling and member of the Executive Board in the Maersk Group.

Reuters yesterday reported that Maersk Drilling has received a short-term contract for its yet to be delivered drillship.

The drillship, one of two units of the kind currently being built for Maersk Drilling by Samsung Heavy Industry in South Korea, is scheduled for delivery this month. The unit is expected to be employed by an oil company in South East Asia.

[mappress]