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Earlier this month Saudi Arabia’s International Maritime Industries (IMI), the largest shipyard in the MENA region, and UAE-based Lamprell completed the load-out and float-off of the first jackup drilling unit being constructed for IMI. The rig will now undergo intensive mechanical completion and commissioning before being transferred to IMI’s yard in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, for final commissioning, before being deployed locally.
Work commenced on the project in January 2020 with IMI and Lamprell collaborating to build two new rigs, the second of which is scheduled to be completed several months after delivery of the first. The design of the two rigs is based on the Super 116E (enhanced) class and features high specification offshore drilling technology, as well as accommodation for up to 120 people.
The project has enabled IMI employees to benefit from the transfer of technical knowledge from Lamprell experts and acquire construction skills that will enable the company to build jackup rigs at the IMI yard in the future.
Christopher McDonald, CEO of Lamprell, said: “This is a significant milestone in the project. We have had excellent team collaboration in getting this first rig delivered to the highest standards of safety and quality and have also welcomed many Saudi nationals during the course of the project as part of supporting the capacity building for IMI’s capabilities.”
IMI has also recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Keppel LeTourneau Middle East (KLET) to collaborate on the design and construction of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs). KLET will provide engineering and construction support as well as rig components to IMI through kit construction and license agreements that will be entered into on a per-rig basis.
The engineering support includes the development of a rig-specific design kit containing engineering drawings and plans, as well as technical guides for IMI to reference when building MODUs. KLET will also provide the engineering license and certain components for each new build rig under the KCLA.
