DDW starts drillship conversion

DP World’s Dubai shipyard, Drydocks World (DDW), has begun conversion of the ultra-deepwater drillship Yan, recently owned by Transocean of Switzerland and previously named GSF Jack Ryan. The drillship is to be converted into an offshore installation vessel for Boskalis BV and will be called Bokalift 2. The Yan, originally built in 2000, is thought to have been cold-stacked for some years.

The first steel has now been cut in the conversion project, DDW said in a statement, which will be carried out to Bureau Veritas rules and ultimately see the converted vessel deployed on offshore windmill installations in Taiwan. Around 10,000 tonnes of new steel will be required, and a new 4,000-tonne crane will be installed. The Bokalift 2 will be operated by BoWei Offshore, a joint venture between Boskalis and Hwa Chi Construction, a Taiwanese marine engineering and construction firm.

Captain Rado Antolovic, Drydocks World CEO, commented: “We thank Boskalis BV for the opportunity to deliver this critical project. The work will equip the vessel with enhanced performance and operational efficiency. As with all projects carried out under the current circumstances, all production work will comply with strict Covid-19 precautionary safety measures.”