Aquadrill's Polaris Drillship Catches Fire in Sri Lanka

Bartolomej Tomic
Thursday, February 17, 2022

Aquadrill's Polaris drillship caught fire earlier this week at Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka. According to the port authorities, the incident happened Tuesday, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

"The Hambantota International Port Emergency Response Unit (ERU) together with the port’s Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Dept. (QHSE), and Port Control, responded to a fire that occurred on board the drillship “West Polaris," on Tuesday, 15th evening.  The ship’s crew had alerted Port Control for assistance in dousing the sudden fire that had broken out in the ship's emergency generator room," the port said in a statement.

"The ERU’s fire trucks arrived on the scene within minutes of being notified, assisting the crew to quickly contain the fire with charged fire hoses. The respective ERU teams brought the fire fully under control within 33 minutes of their arrival.  They were able to prevent serious damage to the ship, or its surrounding area," the port added.

©Hambantota International Port

“The joint effort of this venture reflects professionalism and assurance to HIP port users and stakeholders of optimum safety and proactive response to unforeseen events related in maritime operations,” said Tissa Wickramasinghe, COO of HIPG.

The  2008-built drillship called at the Hambantota Port for a lay-up on January 11, 2021, and was at Berth 6 when the fire occurred. The ship is expected to remain in port until June 2022.

While the vessel, according to a photo - in which some parts appear blurred for an unknown reason - shared by the port, still bears the "West Polaris" name, the drillship is now actually named 'Polaris' after its owner, Seadrill Partners, rebranded and became Aquadrill. The 6th-gen drillship is managed by Vantage Drilling.

Offshore Engineer reached out to both Aquadrill and Vantage, seeking comment on the incident. The companies did not respond.

Last month, Aquadrill signed an agreement with Vantage Drilling for Vantage to manage and market its ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig Aquarius, too. 

According to a statement given in January by Ihab Toma, CEO of Vantage, Vantage has, since starting to manage the Aquadrill fleet in May 2021,  assisted in the recycling and repurposing of two rigs, have contracted the Capella [drillship] with Premier and Repsol in Indonesia, "and are actively bidding the Polaris [drillship] and now the Aquarius."


Hambantota International Port

Categories: Energy Drilling Industry News Activity Asia Drilling Rigs

Related Stories

Russia Targets 2028 for Sakhalin-3 Gas Project Start Up

MDL Secures Cable Laying Job in Asia Pacific

Hibiscus Petroleum Starts Drilling at Teal West Field off UK

Yinson Production Nets DNV Approval for New FPSO Hull Design

Hanwha Ocean's Tidal Action Drillship Starts Maiden Job with Petrobras

Hanwha Ocean Enlists ABB for Singapore’s First Floating LNG Terminal

Aquaterra Energy Nets Subsea Analysis Contracts with INPEX off Indonesia

Saipem Bags $1.5B Contract for Türkiye Largest Offshore Gas Field

Synergy Marine Group Completes Conversion of LNG Vessel to FSRU

PTTEP Hires Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig for Drilling Campaign off Malaysia

Current News

MODEC Ramps Up Hammerhead FPSO Work After ExxonMobil's Go-Ahead

Aesen, DOC JV Targets Subsea Cable Logistics

Timor Gap Boosts Stake in Finder Energy’s Timor-Leste Oil Fields

SBM Offshore Starts Construction of FSO for Trion Oil Field off Mexico

Russia Targets 2028 for Sakhalin-3 Gas Project Start Up

Seatrium Secures ABS Backing for Deepwater FPSO Design

MDL Secures Cable Laying Job in Asia Pacific

Hibiscus Petroleum Starts Drilling at Teal West Field off UK

Yinson Production Nets DNV Approval for New FPSO Hull Design

Hanwha Ocean's Tidal Action Drillship Starts Maiden Job with Petrobras

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com