NEW YORK: A classification services provider, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted an approval in principal (AiP) to South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its next generation HD12000 heavy-duty, wide-beam drillship design.
The HD12000 drillship will be able to operate in 12,000ft (3,658m) water depths with a drilling depth up to 40,000ft (12,192m). It will be capable of accommodating a 20,000-psi blowout preventer system.
HD12000 will feature an innovative hull design based on HHI’s proprietary technology, including improved dynamic positioning (DPS-3) capability through reduced hull-resistance and thruster interaction, enhanced motion performance in maximum roll angle, and reduced wave-resistance at field transit conditions.
The drillship has been designed in accordance with the ABS Guide for the Classification of Drilling Systems (CDS Guide) and other applicable rules and industry standards.
HHI initial design team senior vice-president Yun-Sik Lee said: “This is an important milestone toward meeting the applicable classification requirements for validating the structural integrity of HHI’s latest generation of drillships.
“Through the award of AiP, the design of HD12000 has been developed and verified with improved versatility and strength, increased deck space, benign motion characteristics and a reduced maintenance profile.”
ABS recently granted extended general design approval for the new membrane-type KC-1 LNG cargo containment system (CCS), which will be installed on new-build LNG carriers currently on order for LNG importer Korea Gas (KOGAS).
