Gulf Copper has been awarded a contract for the modification of ENSCO 83, a jackup rig owned by a subsidiary of Ensco International (NYSE:ESV). The fifth Ensco rig to enter Gulf Copper’s Galveston shipyard since Hurricane Ike, the ENSCO 83 is undergoing upgrades and refurbishment before it mobilizes from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to work for PEMEX in Mexico.
“Ensco International has played a major role in the post‐Ike restoration of the Galveston economy,” stated Steve Hale, President of Gulf Copper. “The Ensco projects have enabled us to create and maintain jobs for local residents while generating significant revenue for the Port of Galveston.”
Unlike much of Galveston, the Gulf Copper facility did not sustain major damage from Hurricane Ike.
“Along with the Port of Galveston, we were able to resume operations about a week after Ike made landfall,” explained Leonard Hale, Vice President of Gulf Copper. “However, silt at the entrance of the Galveston Ship Channel prevented us from accepting new work for several weeks. The Port of Galveston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were instrumental in opening the entrance to the channel quickly, while we dredged our drydock and deepwater slips to allow rigs in and out.”
Ensco was among the first major customers to enter the Port of Galveston after Hurricane Ike. Gulf Copper Drydock and Rig Repair has performed repairs, upgrades or enhancements on a total of six Ensco rigs since September 2007.