Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s biggest shipbuilder, said it clinched a USD 620 million order to build a drillship for drilling contractor Rowan Companies on September 12. The contract price includes commissioning, project management, and spares, but excludes capitalized interest.

This contract also includes an option exercisable by Rowan to order an additional same-class drillship.

The vessel, measuring 229 meters in length and 36 meters in width with a maximum drilling depth of 12 km from the surface of sea, is scheduled to be delivered by the first quarter of 2015.

Rowan has exclusively ordered all four of its drillships with Hyundai Heavy since June 2011.

Drillships built by Hyundai Heavy use the drillship-specific Gusto P10000 design making the best use of vessel space for drilling. The design helps stabilize the drillship while operating and uses less fuel by making thrusters operate less. A position controlling system, a computer propulsion system, and seven blowout preventers will also be installed to enhance safety.

The drillship will also be equipped with a thruster canister, saving time in maintenance and operating costs. A thruster canister is housing for the thruster, which helps keep the ship in position while it is drilling. Ships with a canister do not need to be drydocked for maintenance as the thruster can be lifted onto the ship when work needs to be carried out.