Giant Saudi shipyard licensed to build new GustoMSC jack-up design
Written by Marine Log Staff
Left to right: Rutger Baan, (Commercial Director, GustoMSC B.V.), Fathi Al Saleem, (CEO, International Maritime Industries.)
Saudi Arabia’s International Maritime Industries (IMI) has signed a license agreement with GustoMSC that will enable it to construct and deliver drilling rigs built to a new GustoMSC jack-up design.
International Maritime Industries is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, Lamprell, Bahri and Hyundai Heavy Industries that is building a giant shipyard located in the King Salman Complex for International Maritime Industries & Services at Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia,
The new design will utilize the modern manufacturing capabilities currently planned for at IMI. As a result of the agreement, IMI will be fully prepared for its first production operations anticipated in 2021.
Commenting on the license agreement signing, Fathi K Al Saleem, CEO of IMI, said: “This is a major step for IMI in securing the required knowledge and getting the best rig design which will be tailored to our state of the art construction capabilities, ready for decades to come.”
Nils van Nood, Managing Director of GustoMSC, said: “IMI is an important part of the Saudi Vision 2030. Contributing to that vision is a great opportunity for us to serve key clients in Saudi Arabia and the region. As design company and supplier of dedicated capital equipment, we see an important partner in IMI.”
GustoMSC, responsible for delivering the basic design, will customize one of its well established CJ-series of drilling jack-up designs. Using IMI’s specific construction and installation capabilities, overall rig construction time will be reduced. The design retains its key and field proven features such as the sturdy X-bracing leg design, the rack & pinion jacking systems and X-Y cantilever system. The IMI rig design is targeted to be a ‘Fit For Purpose’ solution that enables safe, efficient and reliable drilling for Saudi Arabia.
The full design development will kick-off in the coming weeks. GustoMSC acts as independent rig design company, enabling IMI and its clients to have an open approach to all major vendors that want to become part of the upcoming construction program. About one year ago ARO Drilling announced plans to order at least 20 drilling jack-ups for construction at IMI. It is anticipated that initial rig ordering will get finalized in the second half of 2020.
