
Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore has secured two separate contracts from Beacon Holdings and Norshore Holdings to construct a rig and a drillship, respectively.
Under the deal with Beacon, CIMC will build a semi-submersible rig, Beacon Atlantic, which will be designed using the GM4-D design provided by Global Maritime.
Beacon Atlantic will be designed to operate in harsh weather conditions of the North Sea, Arctic environments and Barents Sea. The rig will feature a NOV-drilling package, DP3 and a 8-point mooring system.
Beacon Atlantic will operate in water depths of up to 500m and will drill wells up to depths of 8,000m.
The rig will be in-line with NMA, NORSOK and PSA-standards and will be classed by DNV. It is scheduled for delivery in Q4 of 2016.
Beacon Atlantic is the second GM4-design rig contracted to CIMC Raffles after the North Dragon, which is currently under construction.

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By GlobalDataCIMC has also secured an option to build a second semi-submersible rig for Beacon Holdings.
In addition, CIMC has secured an order from Norway-based Norshore Holdings’ wholly-owned subsidiary to build a multi-purpose drillship.
The drillship will be used for riser-less drilling and well intervention operations globally, including the North Sea. It is scheduled to be delivery in the second half year of 2016.
CIMC has secured options to build a further three drillships for CIMC Raffles.
CIMC is a China-based wholly-owned subsidiary of the CIMC Group.
Image: The semi-submersible GM4-D design rig will operate under harsh weather conditions in North Sea, Arctic environments and Barents Sea. Photo: courtesy of Global Marine Group.