By Abbas Nazil
Seatrium Offshore Technology has secured an offshore rig contract from International Maritime Industries (IMI) for the supply of equipment and a licence for a self-elevating drilling unit.
IMI is a leading shipyard in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
This development signifies the beginning of new-build construction at IMI since its establishment and reinforces its long-term partnership with Seatrium to construct offshore jack-up rigs.
The awarded rig will be based on the LeTourneau Super 116E Class design, customized for the operational requirements of the MENA region.
It will feature 343-feet legs, a hook load capacity of 1.5 million pounds (680,388 kg), and advanced cyber systems.
Seatrium has prior experience in designing and participating in the construction of jack-up rigs in the Middle East, further solidifying its expertise in the offshore drilling sector.
The announcement comes ahead of Seatrium’s scheduled financial results release for FY2024 on Friday.
The company has been actively expanding its portfolio through new contracts and partnerships, reinforcing its presence in the global offshore and marine industry.
In early February, Seatrium signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BP Exploration & Production, a subsidiary of the oil and gas giant BP, to undertake work for a floating production unit (FPU) in the Gulf of Mexico.
The final contract is expected to be awarded later in the year, pending BP’s final investment decision.
Additionally, Seatrium secured a previous contract for another FPU project in the Gulf under BP’s subsidiary in December 2024.
The company’s executive vice-president for international energy, William Gu, expressed the intention to strengthen ties with BP and establish a long-term collaboration.
Furthermore, Seatrium is poised to finalize a contract in Q1 2025 with Japanese firm Penta-Ocean Construction for engineering works on a heavy lift vessel project, following the signing of a letter of intent.
