Rig and drillship propulsion contracts for Rolls-Royce
8 May 2006
 |
| Rolls-Royce will supply thrusters,
engines |
Rolls-Royce has secured contracts to supply its UUC-series azimuth thrusters to a total of 18 semi-submersible rigs and drillships. In addition, there are options for a further seven shipsets and additional contracts are being negotiated
The largest order has been placed by SeaDrill, and involves the supply of a total of 32 UUC 355 azimuth thrusters for four semi-submersibles. Two of these are being built at Jurong Shipyard in Singapore, and two at South Korea's Daewoo yard, for delivery in 2007 and 2008.
Aker Drilling has two advanced semi-submersible rigs on order at the Aker Kvaerner Stord yard, with options, and Rolls-Royce has been selected to supply the power and propulsion plant, as well as some mooring equipment. For these rigs Aker has specified eight underwater mountable type UUC 405 azimuth thrusters, four of which will be installed under each pontoon.
Three semi-submersible rigs for Noble Drilling will use thrusters from the UUC range, with Noble Dave Beard and Noble Danny Adkins both being fitted with eight UUC 355 units. In addition, Rolls-Royce has also been chosen to supply propulsion, and mooring systems for a large deepwater semisubmersible rig being built to a Moss Maritime design by Samsung in Korea for Eastern Drilling. In this case, to ensure propulsion and dynamic positioning to DP3 standard, eight Rolls-Royce UUC 355 azimuth thrusters are being installed. Each thruster is rated at 3,300 kW and is of a type that can be mounted and demounted underwater without drydocking the vessel.
In the drillship sector, larger UUC 455 units, each rated at 5,500 kW, are being supplied for two Stena DrillMax drill ships for Stena Drilling under construction at Samsung. Furthermore, two drillships for Mosvold being built at the same yard will each have six UUC405 thrusters .
Meanwhile Rolls-Royce is to supply six UUC 355 azimuth thrusters, each rated at 3,800 kW, to a drilling rig of an unusual circular configuration which has been developed by Sevan Marine in Norway. The Sevan Stabilised Platform (SSP) is designed to operate in very deep water and harsh conditions.