New drill rig in management /16 May 2003/

A semi submersible drill rig is essentially an enormous box shaped barge supported on twin hulls. It has a colossal capacity to consume water ballast and with minimal water plane area and a displacement of up to 170 000 tonnes, presents an immovable object to wave action in anything but the most severe weather conditions.

The Pride Rio de Janeiro is fitted with computer-controlled propellers that can rotate 360° and like that keep the unit in position.

Pride Rio de Janeiro is currently under construction in Portland, Maine, USA. Delivery is scheduled for end 2003. Beginning of 2004 the rig will start its drilling operation off the Brazilian coast.

On the picture you can see a sistership of the Pride Rio de Janeiro.