Max Smith News

Super tugs Fairmount Sherpa and Fairmount Expedition have towed the drilling rig Noble Max Smith from the Gulf to Brazil. Both tugs hooked-up in Pascagoula Mississippi, USA. For this job the Fairmount Sherpa and the Fairmount Expedition were mobilized to the departure location from there previous projects. Fairmount Sherpa had just delivered the rig Atwood Condor in Trinidad after a speedy crossing of the Atlantic and the turbulent waters around the Cape of Good Hope and Fairmount Expedition was successfully involved in the salvage of the ill fated container vessel MSC Flaminia.

Established in 1983 to provide timely, cost effective hydraulic remanufacturing services to the pulp and paper, marine, offshore and steel industries, Offshore Inland Services has dominated this niche. To extend its expertise within the oceangoing marine and offshore industry, the company formed a second group to provide a more concentrated focus. A turnkey service provider, Offshore Inland Marine & Oilfield Services is known throughout the industry for providing quick turnaround while maintaining high quality and controlled costs. The company has often been referred to as the "shipyard on wheels," as it is willing to meet its customer’s needs, wherever those needs may be, oftentimes dispatching crews of 10-15 workers to locales near and far.

Offshore Inland Marine & Oilfield Services of Mobile, Ala., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Offshore Inland Services that commenced operations on December 1, 2000. The fledgling operation timed its entrance into the market perfectly, and despite its short time of operation it is considerably long on references. Offshore Inland Marine & Oilfield Services - which is ISO 9000 compliant - primarily is involved in the following business operations: turn-key hydraulic system engineering; hydraulic/pneumatic tubing & piping; steel renewals & fabrications; inside & outside machinists; and providing class certified welders. The organization's expertise has been utilized on many of the world's most sophisticated offshore structures and vessels.

Noble Drilling Corporation, along with its subsidiaries Noble Drilling Services Inc. and Noble Drilling (U.S.) Inc., has filed suit against Samedan Oil Corporation and Mariner Energy, Inc. for breach of contract. In recent years, Noble Drilling has focused on increasing the number of rigs in its fleet capable of deepwater offshore drilling. A principal component of this deepwater strategy has been the conversion and upgrade of rigs to drill in water depths greater than 5,000 ft. Five of the six rigs in this program have been delivered under long-term contracts. Noble Max Smith was delivered on December 22, 1999 for use by Amerada Hess Corporation.

Noble Drilling Corporation announced its fifth successful EVA-4000TM semisubmersible conversion, Noble Max Smith, commenced its mobilization to its first location in Alaminos Canyon for Amerada Hess Corporation. The unit, capable of drilling in water depths up to 6,000 ft., will undergo final commissioning of its marine systems when it arrives on location. Upon completion of commissioning, the rig will commence drilling operations under its contract with Amerada Hess Corporation. The conversion of Noble Max Smith was completed in 14 months, which was approximately eight months faster than the first EVA-4000TM semisubmersible conversion, Noble Paul Romano. Additionally, the estimated total conversion cost is anticipated to be approximately four percent below the construction budget.

prior to the storm's arrival and that all the company's units in the U.S. of Mexico have been secured. from their mooring lines as Hurricane Rita passed. system (GPS) technology installed onboard each of the units. their original locations. for preliminary evaluations of condition. Noble Joe Alford moved approximately 8 miles off its original location. winch. technology onboard. members below the hull. repairs, of the other units without taking them to a shipyard. Texas, and Pascagoula, Mississippi. to conduct further surveys. in delays in returning units to operational status. schedules to return the units to operational status. will be released after further survey of the condition of the units.