Transocean buys two drillships for $1.08bn at Jurong Shipyard

The deal comes with an option for three additional drillships.

Scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018, the drillships will be built based on Jurong Shipyard's proprietary Jurong Espadon III design with advanced capabilities for operational efficiency and ultra-deepwater development drilling operations worldwide.

Equipped with DP3 capabilities, the drillships will be capable of operating at 12,000 feet water depth and drilling to depths of 40,000 feet, with accommodation facilities for a crew of 220 personnel.

Transocean currently owns and operates six drilling units built by Sembcorp Marine's yards, including three jack-ups and one semi-submersible delivered by PPL Shipyard and two semi-submersibles built by Jurong Shipyard.

Meanwhile, PPL Shipyard announced yesterday an order win for a jack-up rig worth $214.3m from Marco Polo Marine.