Noble Corp’s Noble Innovator was the largest ever to touch Aberdeen waters.
The jack-up rig arrived at the new £400 million Aberdeen South Harbour on Feb. 11 for scheduled maintenance, after which it will depart for the central North Sea to complete decommissioning works for bp.
The 2003-built Noble Innovator jack-up rig is of Gusto MSC CJ 70 – 150 MC design, sporting legs more than 200 metres in height. It was constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan in Korea and can accommodate 120 people.
Noble offers full ride for four Guyanese at Massachusetts Maritime Academy | OilNOW
The maintenance work scope will benefit Aberdeen’s economy and job creation through a multi-million-pound investment in local contract awards, where selected vendors will support the maintenance work such as diving, welding, inspection, painting, scaffolding, accommodation, catering, logistics and many more, a release from the Port of Aberdeen said.
Roddy James, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Aberdeen, said: “It is exciting to welcome new types and sizes of vessels to the port, be that from oil and gas, renewables, cargo, or cruise. South Harbour’s tidally unrestricted deepwater berths, extensive laydown space and heavy lift capacity, make Aberdeen an attractive option for larger vessels.
Noble Discoverer heads to Guyana to drill CGX Wei-1 well in Corentyne Block | OilNOW
James added that the expanded Port of Aberdeen, across North Harbour and South Harbour, now offers its customers even greater flexibility for their projects, with a focus on reducing risk, adding value, and minimising cost.
Claus Bachmann, VP of Operations, Noble Corporation, said: “We are excited that the new South Harbour facilities have made it possible for one of our rigs to visit Aberdeen for the first time ever. The Noble Innovator is stopping by for a so-called special periodic survey which rigs must undergo every five years to ensure that we are able to operate safely, and which will involve multiple local suppliers in the extensive maintenance scope.”
Operations at South Harbour are well underway with high utilisation of berths and the operational quayside area. Construction of South Harbour is scheduled to complete in Q2 2023, which will make Aberdeen the largest berthage port in Scotland.
