Semco Maritime busy with rig upgrades
MARITIME INDUSTRY: Semco Maritime A/S ends the year of 2009 with two new rig upgrades in the harbour of Esbjerg. The jack-up-rig Ensco 71 has arrived and later in November it will be joined by Energy Endeavour which is now owned by one of the smaller rig companies, Northern Offshore Ltd.
"Both rig upgrades amount in the double-digit million range, and we expect to employ about 180 employees and that the work will last throughout the year. In addition to our own employees we expect the rig upgrades to give employment to a number of our regular sub suppliers", says Hans-Peter Jørgensen, Vice President for Rig Projects at Semco Maritime.
"The rig market has been slack in 2009, and it is highly probable that all three jack-up-rigs will be laid up in Esbjerg throughout this winter. We already harbor the rig Noble Byron Welliver which has been upgraded and is now awaiting orders".
Hans-Peter Jørgensen expects the market to thaw during next spring.
"With these two new projects we will reach a number of six rigs which have been refurbished and upgraded in Esbjerg this year which means that we keep our budgets for turnover and earnings. We must expect a slight reduction of our turnover in 2010, but we maintain our goal of attracting 12 rigs to Esbjerg in 2012", says Hans-Peter Jørgensen.
Ensco 71 from one of the biggest rig companies in the world has come into Danish sector for the regular 5-year check. Steel work will be carried out, reinforcements and piping replacements, furthermore the accommodation module will be refurbish with new bathrooms and smoking rooms. The work will last five weeks.
Energy Endeavour, is also built in 1982. It has been working on contract in the Danish sector of the North Sea and needs replacement of the PA/GA-system, communication and alarm, as well as an upgrade of the fire and gas system and of the accommodation module.
Furthermore a number of repairs and replacements will be carried out, including a new lifeboat.
Source: Semco Maritime
