COSCO (Guangdong), a subsidiary of COSCO Shipyard Group Co., has secured a contract with Energy Drilling to construct two units of Self Erecting Drilling Tender Barges valued at over US$220 million, with an option for an additional two barges.

The two barges under the firm contract are to be delivered in the second quarter of 2014. 

The barges will be made to advanced specifications  and will be equipped with heavy lift cranes with a safe working load of 400 metric tonnes.  

In addition, the barges are designed for quick moves from platform to platform and for maximum drilling uptime, and will be able to operate in shallow waters of up to 200 metres with its own mooring system. They will also be able to operate in deep waters of up to 1800 metres on Spars oil platforms and tension leg platforms with pre-laid mooring systems supplied by oil companies. 

Energy Drilling is a newly incorporated company based in Singapore. It is substantially owned by the Energy Ventures group, a venture capital firm headquartered in Stavanger, Norway.