Maersk Drilling takes delivery of ultra-deep-water drilling ship

It is the first in a series of four ultra-deep-water drilling ships to enter Maersk Drilling’s fleet. The four ships represent a total investment of USD 2.6 billion and will all be delivered from the SHI shipyard in 2014.
Featuring dual derrick and large subsea work and storage areas, the drilling ship design allows for efficient well construction and field development activities through offline activities, Maersk said. With their advanced positioning control system, the ships automatically maintain a fixed position in severe weather conditions with waves of up to 11m and wind speeds of up to 26m per second.
Special attention has been given to safety: Equipped with multi machine control on the drill floor, the high degree of automation ensures safe operation and consistent performance. Higher transit speeds and increased capacity will reduce the overall logistics costs for oil companies.
Maersk Viking has started its voyage to the US Gulf of Mexico where it will commence a three-year contract with ExxonMobil.