US firm and Chinese player pooling resources to bring new semi-submersible rig design to life

On a mission to breathe life into its new semi-submersible drilling rig design, Friede & Goldman (F&G), a U.S.-headquartered mobile offshore drilling equipment design player, has joined forces with China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. (DSOC), a contractor specializing in the design, construction, repair, and modification of ships and offshore units.

While confirming the strategic cooperation agreement with Friede & Goldman, the Chinese contractor, which is located in the coastal equipment manufacturing industry cluster of Dalian Bay, emphasized the long-standing cooperation between the two parties, explaining that the latest deal enabled their relationship to reach a new height.

The two companies have a history of cooperation, as they joined hands to build multiple JU2000E series jack-up drilling rigs and semi-submersible drilling units designed by F&G. Thanks to the new deal, the duo will jointly launch the newly developed ExD 1000M semi-submersible drilling rig to the market. 

“The cooperation between the two parties again is another in-depth exploration journey for the new direction of the marine engineering market. It perfectly integrates the rich experience accumulated by DSIC in the construction of marine engineering equipment with the advanced design concept of F&G, and is bound to bring more excellent quality marine engineering equipment to potential customers,” underlined the Chinese player.

While highlighting that ExD 1000M is not only for the Chinese market but also suitable for global operations, DSOC elaborates that the design adopts F&G’s rig layout and mooring system, “providing customers with excellent positioning capabilities and outstanding operational flexibility and work efficiency.”

“In the future, the two parties will have a far-sighted vision, based on the complex and changing market situation, insight into future development trends, and jointly launch more outstanding and unique products and solutions, injecting a steady stream of new vitality into the vigorous development of the marine engineering equipment industry, and promoting the entire industry to move forward in a more prosperous and innovative direction,” outlined the contractor.

The Chinese firm believes this cooperation can “unprecedentedly” improve the operating performance of the drilling rig, opening doors for “a more powerful role in marine operations.”

Dalian Shipbuilding, which is interested in ammonia as a sustainable alternative fuel to enable a comprehensive solution for the decarbonization of the shipping industry, recently received approval in principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas (BV) for its 30,000 cbm liquid ammonia bunkering vessel design.