Friede Goldman Signs $143 Million Contract to Build Millennium SA

Friede Goldman International Inc. (FGI) has signed a $143.2 million contract with Rudgil SA, a subsidiary of Schahin Engenharia e Comercio Ltda. of Brazil, for the construction of a Friede Goldman-designed "Millennium SA." The Millennium SA (South America) is the latest in new, deepwater semisubmersible designs from FGI subsidiary Friede & Goldman, Ltd., (F&G) a New Orleans-based naval architecture and marine engineering company. Equipped as a dynamically positioned semi with a DPS-2 station keeping system, the Millennium SA is capable of drilling in 5,000 ft. of water with a variable deck load of 3,500 long tons. F&G will perform engineering work on the project in conjunction with Friede Goldman Offshore, East in Pascagoula, Miss., where the rig will be constructed. The rig is scheduled for delivery 23 months from the contract signing date, contingent on the completion of rig financing. The Schahin company has a six-year contract with Petrobras, the state-owned oil company, to operate its rig offshore Brazil.