Rig Transport News

To meet strict international codes, the marine transportation and logistics services company Signet Maritime Corporation recently installed Sea-Fire suppression and detection systems on three new tugs. Two of the vessels are 100' x 40' RAstar 3100 Class Terminal Support/Escort tugs. Built by Trinity Offshore, M/V Signet Stars & Stripes and M/V Signet Constellation were recently christened in Gulfport, Mississippi. The third, M/V Signet Weatherly, is a 108' x 40' 4" RAmparts 3200 ASD tug, built by Signet Shipbuilding, and was delivered March 10, 2012. Each tug is protected by a custom-engineered, automatic Sea-Fire FM-200 fire suppression system and FireStop Detection system. An EPA-approved alternative to halon, FM-200 is safe for people and equipment.

Signet Maritime Corporation announced that its newest tug, a Robert Allan designed RAmparts 3200 Class ocean towing and escort tug, M/V SIGNET WEATHERLY, will be delivered on March 10, 2012, from Signet Shipbuilding & Repair in Pascagoula, Mississippi. This state-of-the-art ASD will be used in Signet’s U.S. Gulf of Mexico operations. Signet will own and operate the vessel in support of its Offshore Towing Division and its expanding U.S. Gulf and overseas harbor, ship assist, deep offshore and ocean rig transport business.

Signet Maritime Corporation announced the successful completion of transportation, delivery and loadout of two mat supported Jackup rigs. Signet provided full turnkey operations for the movement of the Rubicone H-191 from Sabine, Texas to Kiewit Offshore Services, Ingleside, Texas. The MV Signet Enterprise with 4,400BHP, 62.6MT Bollard pull ahead, 53.5MT bollard pull astern and the MV Signet Intrepid with 4,400BHP, 60.3MT bollard pull ahead, 54.7MT bollard pull astern, were the primary towing tugs for the project. The ocean tow was accomplished flawlessly in four days.

John H. Colle, Jr., President of Colle Towing Company, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., announced that Signet Maritime Corporation has awarded a new-build contract to Colle Shipyard for construction of Signet Weatherly, a Robert Allan designed RAmparts 3200 105-ft x 38-ft by 17.7-ft ASD tug. The vessel will be built and classed to ABS Maltese Cross, AMS, Ocean Towing Service standards. She will be employed in Signet’s expanding US Gulf and overseas harbor, ship assist and ocean rig transport businesses.

Dockwise Ltd. announced its second quarter and interim 2009 results. "Dockwise has had a good second quarter, and in quieter market conditions the business is displaying its strengths. This steady operational performance has allowed us significantly to deleverage the business by nearly USD 100 million in the first half of 2009, and we continue in our efforts to strengthen the balance sheet. Stringent cost discipline and a stop on hiring of new personnel is and will be continued. Dockwise's global spread has given us access to business wherever it has emerged, while utilization rates of over 90 per cent have sustained a healthy EBITDA margin and strong cash generation.

Dockwise Ltd. announced that three new contracts have been awarded to their subsidiaries Dockwise Shipping and ODL for the transportation of a semi submersible drilling rig, for the transportation of the hull of a production platform and for a FEED study of a jacket design respectively. Dockwise Shipping will transport the Noble Jim Day, a large sixth (6th) generation semi submersible drilling rig in 2009. The rig is currently under construction in Singapore. With the number of these large new design semi submersibles under construction still increasing, the contract for the Noble Jim Day is seen as an important development. Dockwise will also transport the hull for ATP Oil & Gas Corporation's Cheviot project currently being constructed in China.

Dockwise Ltd. announced that five contracts have been awarded to their subsidiary Dockwise Shipping for the transportation of three drilling rigs and two voyages with dredging equipment. Dockwise Shipping will transport miscellaneous dredging equipment for Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors and Jan de Nul as well as the jack-up drilling rigs Petrojack II, Aban VIII and Deep Driller IV in 2008. The new build Jack-up drilling rigs Petrojack II and Aban VIII are currently being completed in , whereas the Deep Driller IV will be relocated. All contracts contribute to the Dockwise strategic objective to materially expand activities in both rig transport (core business) and transport of offshore production facilities. The total value of the contracts is close to USD 18 million.

Dockwise Ltd. saidthat five contracts have been awarded to their subsidiary Dockwise Shipping for the transportation of three drilling rigs and two voyages with dredging equipment. Dockwise Shipping will transport miscellaneous dredging equipment for Van Oord Dredging & Marine Contractors and Jan de Nul as well as the jack-up drilling rigs Petrojack II, Aban VIII and Deep Driller IV in 2008.  The new build Jack-up drilling rigs Petrojack II and Aban VIII are currently being completed in Singapore, whereas the Deep Driller IV will be relocated. All contracts contribute to the Dockwise strategic objective to materially expand activities in both rig transport (core business) and transport of offshore production facilities. The total value of the contracts is close to $18 million.

Dockwise announced that their subsidiary Dockwise Shipping was awarded four contracts for the transportation of drilling and production equipment. Dockwise Shipping will transport jack-up drilling rigs Transocean Nordic, Murmanskaya and Atwoord Aurora within 2008. The PetroProd CJ 70 production rig is currently under construction at Jurong Shipyard in and is scheduled for delivery in the 3rd quarter of 2010. The PetroProd unit is one of the world's largest production jack-up rigs, with legs of more than 200 m height and with a weight of approx. 33,000 tons. All contracts contribute to the Dockwise strategic objective to materially expand activities in both rig transport (core business) and transport of offshore production facilities.