Aker Kvaerner awards semi-sub contract to Dubai Drydocks

The hulls for two Aker Kvaerner designed H6e semi-submersible drilling rigs, designed for deep sea drilling in harsh environment and arctic conditions, is to be built by Dubai Drydocks.

The Contract includes the steel construction of the two hulls up to main deck, installation of piping systems, DP- systems, mud tanks and sophisticated hull and tank coating as well as extensive electric wiring work. The major sections of the rig hulls, pontoons and columns will be built in separate units and assembled with bracings in one of the yards drydocks. The dimensions of the finished hull structures are length 20m, width 77 m and height 37.5 m.

After completion of work at Dubai Drydocks, the hulls will be transported to Aker Kvaerner Stord yard on the west coast of Norway, for installation of deck structure with drilling equipment, accommodation and final commissioning.

The hulls will be built to the highest DNV standards for offshore constructions, which require special steel qualities and strict welding requirements, for the entire steel construction. In total, each hull will have a steel weight of 16.300 tonnes and the production time is scheduled to be 12 months after first plate cutting in May 2006 which means delivery of the first unit in June 2007 and the second unit 8 months later.

The Aker Kvaerner project was found to have a perfect time schedule, to fit in as the first major project of the yard?s new production plant for newbuilding and is the single largest contract in the shipyard?s history.