Apr. 2002 Vol. 223 No. 4  European Technology Round Up
Netherlands
New rig arrives as part of simultaneous two-vessel delivery

At Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the two largest heavy transport vessels of the Dockwise Shipping fleet accomplished a simultaneous delivery of two jack-up drilling rigs on Feb. 7, 2002. The M.V. Black Marlin and M.V. Blue Marlin delivered the Rowan Gorilla VII and Ensco 72 jack-ups, respectively.

The heavy transport carrier Black Marlin is pictured just after loading the Rowan Gorilla VII at Cameron, Louisiana.

After a voyage of 19 days, the Black Marlin (217.8 m or 715 ft long, 49 m or 161 ft wide and deadweight tonnage of 57,021) arrived at the Hook of Holland anchorage with the 25,757-t Rowan Gorilla VII aboard. This new-built jack-up – specially designed for harsh environments – was originally loaded at Cameron, Louisiana, along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Rowan Gorilla VII has an impressive leg length of 174.85 m (575.5 ft) and a width of 91.44 m (300 ft). This resulted in an overhang of 21.22 m (69.6 ft) on each side of the vessel. The rig was discharged in the so-called "sink-hole" located in the 8th Petroleum port in the Rotterdam Maasvlakte on Feb. 8, 2002.

Meanwhile, the Blue Marlin (same deck length and deadweight tonnage as the Black Marlin, but with a width of 42 m or 137.8 ft) had loaded the 12,080-t Ensco 72 jack-up in Holyhead, United Kingdom. Because the Ensco 72 has a width of 75.4 m (247 ft), it protruded 16.7 m (55 ft) on each side of the vessel’s deck. The rig, with a leg length of 105.8 m (347 ft), was discharged on Feb. 8, 2002 in the Caland Canal. Dockwise Shipping is located in Breda, The Netherlands, and operates a fleet of 14 heavy transport vessels of various concepts and designs.