On 19 May, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the naming ceremony of a new semi-submersible drilling rig at SOCAR’s Caspian Drilling Company’s offshore supply and logistics base. Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) through its subsidiary in Azerbaijan, Caspian Shipyard Company (CSC) constructed and delivered the rig which has been named after Heydar Aliyev, former president and national leader Heydar Aliyev. The rig’s bearing the name of national leader is of particular importance. Since the 70’s of last century, the national leader Heydar Aliyev kept in the spotlight the drilling works in the Caspian Sea using modern technologies. “Shelf” type drilling rigs were delivered to the country in 1970-1980 as a result of the strenuous efforts of the national leader. During the years of independence those rigs were reconstructed and “Dede Gorgud”, “Istiglal” floating rigs had been created based on them.
Being built specifically for the Caspian Sea’s harsh environment condition, the Heydar Aliyev rig can conduct drilling in depths of up to 1,000 m. CMS operated Islay and Jura AHTS vessels were involved in the sea trial operation as leading vessels, ably assisted by vessels from ACSC.
Vessel Type – DSS38 5th Generation Deepwater,
Mobile Offshore Drilling Semi-Submersible Rig
IMO Number – 9698109
Name – Heydar Aliyev
Max Length – 106.5 metres
Max Breadth – 69.5 metres
Operating Draught – 20.5 metres
Minimum transit draught – 8.8 metres
