HHI uses the GustoMSC P10,000 drillship design. Source: GustoMSC. Click to enlarge.

The vessels, measuring 229 meters in length and 36 meters in width, are rated for operations in water 12,000 ft (3,657 m) deep. They are scheduled to be delivered by the second half of 2013.

Winning this order brings Hyundai Heavy’s total drillship new orders this year to 9, worth US$5 billion, with options to build three more drillships.

The drillships will be equipped with a thruster canister, saving time in maintenance and operating costs. A thruster canister is housing for the thruster, which helps keep the ship in position while it is drilling. Ships with a canister do not need to be drydocked for maintenance as the thruster can be lifted onto the ship when work needs to be carried out.

The drillships Hyundai Heavy builds use the drillship-specific Gusto P10,000 design. GustoMSC developed a new generation drill ship during the 1990s capable of drilling in maximum 10,000 ft water depth. In 2007 Gusto enhanced the design of the P10,000. The vessel is specially developed to operate in water depths of 10,000 ft up to 12,000 ft and drilling activities to a total depth of 40,000 ft under the drill floor. The drill floor features a large racking setback capacity of 1,580 metric ton (1,750 st).

The ship’s DP (dynamic positioning) system is DP3 compliant with station keeping ability and sufficient power to operate in typical Gulf of Mexico, Brazil or West Africa conditions.

The design helps stabilize the drillship while operating and uses less fuel by making thrusters operate less. A position controlling system, a computer propulsion system, and seven blowout preventers will also be installed in the drillships to enhance safety.

HHI also recently won a $600-million order to build two 155,000 m³ LNG carriers, including an option for another vessel of the same class, from Greece-based Dynagas Ltd.