OSLO (Thomson Financial) - Seadrill Ltd said delays in the commissioning of the drilling package on its new-build drilling vessel West Polaris means it has had to delay the start of operations in Brazil from late August to October.
While the vessel has been delivered only 10 days after the original contract schedule, Seadrill said that the commissioning of the vessel's drilling package is 'taking longer than originally anticipated'.
'We are not pleased with the development, but are working closely with our suppliers in order to ensure effective delivery within the revised timeline,' said chief executive Alf Thorkildsen.
Industry analysts have already expressed concern about tightness in the construction market leading to delays in vessel production.
West Polaris is the first of three ultra-deepwater drillships ordered by Seadrill from South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries. alastair.reed@thomsonreuters.com ar/lam COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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