CIMC Raffles Starts Norway's Semisub Construction

Chinese semi-submersible rig specialist CIMC Raffles has kicked off construction of a deep-water unit destined for operation in Norway’s North Sea and other challenging regions such as the Arctic and Barents Sea.Construction started yesterday.

Beacon Atlantic, built for Norway’s rig player North Sea Rigs to the GM4-D design, will be capable of operating in water depths of 500 metres with drilling depth up to 8000 metres.

Classed classification society DNV GL, the rig with DP3 system and a drilling package provided by NOV will be built to the Norsok standards, while meeting the requirement set by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway and the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.

The unit, the sixth of its kind CIMC will have built for operation in Norway’s North Sea, is scheduled for delivery in 2016.

Beacon Atlantic is the second GM4-D design semisub contracted by CIMC after the first unit, North Dragon, which is already being built.

North Sea Rigs is managing both rigs on behalf of the owners.