"Saipem 10000"

Spent some time on Saipem 10000 an Ultra Deepwater DP3 Drillship. Horrible!

This monster can operate in water depth of 10,000 feet (3km) and then drill a hole 30,000 feet (9km) down.

Diesel/electric 6 x 7000kW Wartsila = 42,000kW

An Unlimited DP (Dynamic Positioning) 'ticket' is hard to get and hard to maintain. Theres always 2 DP Operators/Mates on the Bridge at all times; one hour on the 'desk' turn about. The systems and controls are complex and it takes some time to get comfortable! Nearly everything Offshore is now DP.

During the drilling process they flare off (get rid of) the gas. The accomodation is pressurised so no poisonous or combustible gases can ever get inside. Crew change by chopper - this helipad can take a Chinook. The best view of S10000 is leaving Balikpapan in the launch!

ROV manipulator retrieving one of our seabed transponders 1965 feet down.