Oil & Gas News

Rowan Takes Delivery of Second Drillship Built Using ISQM

Resolute.327x218(Houston) ABS, the leading provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, continues to improve construction and integration timeliness with the completion of the Rowan Resolute ultra deepwater drillship. This newbuild, the second in a series for global offshore drilling contractor Rowan Companies, was built in the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea It joins sister ship Rowan Renaissance as the next high-specification drillship to earn ABS' Integrated Software Quality Management (ISQM) notation.

"Reliance on computer-controlled systems has increased. And verifying software programs - including their integration - is vital to safe and efficient operations," says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. "ABS identified software verification and integration as construction issues several years ago and developed ISQM to address these problems so the time to first production could be reduced."

ISQM represents a change in focus for classification societies that previously focused on the physical assets. ABS' ISQM notation is the first proven approach to providing a clear process for minimizing software-related risk throughout the life of an asset.

"No other class society has classed the drilling equipment and other essential marine equipment with a software notation that addresses software quality during construction, at delivery and into operations," says Paul Walters, ABS Manager.

Rowan Companies, a first mover among drilling contractors in applying a structured software quality management approach, is pleased with the process and has seen the results in the commissioning of the first ISQM drillship, Rowan Renaissance, which left the HHI yard early this year and began operating in late April.

"Following ISQM with the construction of the Rowan Renaissance paved the way so that the second drillship, Rowan Resolute,went even more smoothly," says Greg Lanier, Rowan Software Quality Manager. "Rowan was ahead of the pack in testing this approach and has seen very favorable results, which we expect to be passed on to our customers."

The experience gained by HHI places the yard in a unique position. "By working with ABS and Rowan Companies on this project, we have built up a knowledge base that allows us to offer experience with a new process that will benefit our other clients," says Sang-Sik Yoon, ISQM Team Leader, HHI.

HHI will follow the ISQM process in the construction of the remaining two drillships in the four-unit series.
About ABS


Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

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