Hitachi Zosen of Japan recently received orders from two Liberian companies—Nymphea Corporation and Actinia Corporation—for two semisubmersible offshore oil drilling rigs. Both rigs will be operated by Foramer S.A. of France. The rigs are each 82.3 meters long, 60.96 meters wide, and 35.36 meters high (270 by 200 by 116 feet). The rigs are the latest, improved version of the Enhanced Pacesetter type and are based on the original design of Friede & Goldman, Ltd. of New Orleans. The rig can handle a variable deck load of 3,200 tons.
Designed to operate in deep seas of about 450-610 meters (1,500-2,000 feet), they are capable of drilling to a maximum depth of 9,144 meters (approximately 30,000 feet). Able to operate in waves up to 30 meters high and wind speeds up to 51 meters/sec, they are equipped with four thrusters that maintain a stationary state necessary for drilling in rough seas.
The rigs will be built at Hitachi's Ariake Works, according to the rules and regulations applicable to those rigs operating in the U.K. sector of the North Sea, and will be classed by Det norske Veritas. Delivery is scheduled for the fall of 1982.