LIMASSOL, Cyprus – Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore has connected the upper hull and topsides to the lower hull of the Frigstad Deepwater Rig Alfa.
This is the first of two ultra-deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs ordered in late 2012 byFrigstad Deepwater.
Frigstad claims the near 18,000-metric ton (19,841-ton) lifting operation, performed by the Taisun crane, was one of the heaviest lifts ever undertaken by a conventional crane.
The rig is the second of theFrigstad D90 design developed by Frigstad Engineering. The first, delivered in 2011, is currently operating offshore West Africa.
Frigstad Deepwater claims these are amongst the largest and most powerful ultra-deepwater drilling rigs ever built.
The two rigs under construction at Yantai are expected to be delivered during the second half of 2016 and the first half of 2017.
