Career <tr valign="top"><td>Name:</td><td>

Transocean Marianas
P. Portia (1996–1998)
Polyportia (1994–1996)
Tharos (1979–1994)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Owner:</td><td> Transocean</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Operator:</td><td> Transocean</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Port of registry:</td><td> 22x20px Marshall Islands, Majuro
22x20px United Kingdom, Aberdeen 1995-1996</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Builder:</td><td> Mitsubishi Heavy Industries</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Laid down:</td><td> 13 August 1978</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Acquired:</td><td> 01 September 1979</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Identification:</td><td> Call sign: V7HC5
ABS class no: 7904130
DNV ID: 28301
IMO number: 8757960
MMSI no.: 538002209</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Notes:</td><td> [1][2]</td></tr>

General characteristics

<tr valign="top"><td>Class & type:</td><td> American Bureau of Shipping: A1 column stabilized MODU; AMS; ACCU; DP S2</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Tonnage:</td><td> 20,461 GT; 61,38 NT; 10,100 DWT</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Length:</td><td> 91.44 m (300.0 ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Beam:</td><td> 75.8952 m (249.000 ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Draught:</td><td> Operating: 25 m (82 ft)
Transit: 9 m (30 ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Depth:</td><td> 34.7472 m (114.000 ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Deck clearance:</td><td> 12,352 mm (40.525 ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Propulsion:</td><td> 6 x Electro-Motive Diesel MD-20 3,600hp</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Speed:</td><td> 2.0 kts</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Capacity:</td><td> Liquid mud: 1,589 m3 (56,100 cu ft)
Drill water: 1,734 m3 (61,200 cu ft)
Potable water: 465 m3 (16,400 cu ft)
Fuel oil: 2,941 m3 (103,900 cu ft)
Bulk mud: 221 m3 (7,800 cu ft)
Bulk cement: 221 m3 (7,800 cu ft)</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Crew:</td><td> 150</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td>Notes:</td><td> [1]</td></tr>

Transocean Marianas is an Earl & Wright Sedco 700 design semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in harsh environments and water depths up to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) using an 18.75 in (47.6 cm), 15,000 psi blowout preventer (BOP), and a 21 in (53 cm) outside diameter (OD) marine riser.[3]

Transocean Marianas currently operates offshore drilling activities in Ghana. Throughout her career, she has operated under several names: Tharos from 1979 to 1994, Polyportia from 1994 to 1996, and P. Portia from 1996 to 1998.

On October 7, 2009, it began drilling on the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico. On November 9, 2009. it was damaged by Hurricane Ida. It was replaced by the Deepwater Horizon, which was responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill when that rig exploded on April 20, 2010.[4]

As of January 15th, 2013, it is in transit from Ghana to Namibia until end of February 2013 where it will start a drilling program under contract from HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A.

Piper Alpha incident

In 1988, as Tharos, the vessel operated as a large firefighting, construction, diving support and accommodation vessel equipped with a helicopter and a hospital ship with 22 beds, that rescued survivors from the Piper Alpha oil platform disaster.[5] The vessel carried out firefighting on the night of the disaster and supported the fire fighting and well kill operations that led to the extinguishing of the blaze. However, flaws in the design of the vessel's extensible rescue arm prevented it from rescuing crew from the platform, while errors in the operation of the water cannon delayed their use. Divers from Tharos recovered many bodies from the seabed and from the galley area of Piper Alpha.

2011 Ghana incident

On July 6, 2011, the Transocean Marianas was evacuated due to it taking on water off the coast of Ghana. [6]

References

Further reading

  • Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons: Emergency Support Vessels (North Sea), 10 December 198. vol 14, columns 468W–469W.
  • Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons: Oil and Gas (Safety), 16 January 1990. vol. 165, column 188W.
  • Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons: Semi-submersible Tharos (Incident), 11 November 1985. vol. 86, columns 53W–55W.

External links