GLOBETROTTER II

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Latest news

Crew member filed lawsuit against Shell and Noble

A lawsuit was filed on Sep 8 in a Texas District Court by one of the crew members of the 'Globetrotter II'. The suit alleged that the defendants, which include Shell Oil Company and Noble Drilling Services, Inc-, did not "care about the risks posed and continued to operate the vessel in direct defiance of the National Hurricane Center's forecast." According to the lawsuit, after unlatching on August 28, the 'Globetrotter II' headed directly into Hurricane Ida. It states that the ship's chosen course took it within ten miles of the storm's eye wall and exposed the crew to 150 mile per hour winds and 80-foot swells. "On board, ferocious sea tossed the crew around and threw them into walls. The Globetrotter II was swaying so severely side-to-side that the crew was forced to walk on walls. The sway was so extreme that the Globetrotter II almost capsized several times. The entire crew believed they were going to die." The plaintiff alleged that he suffered several injuries during the storm including constant headaches, pain to his neck, back shoulders and other parts of his body. According to the lawsuit the plaintiff also suffered from "emotional disturbance as a result of the Defendents' actions including anxiety, difficulty in focusing and concentration, sleep disturbance and more." The lawsuit is seeking a monetary relief of over $1 million.

Noble Corpporation sent force majeure notice to Shell

The offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has sent a force majeure notice to its client Shell over the 'Noble Globetrotter II' contract after the rig was damaged during Hurricane Ida. The drillship has a contract with Shell lasting until early The contract does not contain a right of termination for force majeure. Noble has insurance coverage for property damage with a $10 million deductible.September 2023 at a flexible day rate of at least $275,000. The U.S. Coast Guard said on Sep 1 that the drill ship, located 80 nautical miles south, southeast of Grand Isle, La., in the Gulf of Mexico, had sustained damage and that a plan was being developed to bring the vessel into port for repairs. The Noble Corp. said on sep 2, that the management is in frequent communication with the ship's crew and was working to facilitate additional transport for some crew members to shore, as may be needed, as well as replacement personnel to support marine operations. The vessel's living quarters continued to operate normally with food service, climate control, water, power, and internet systems functional. The vessel's helideck was fully operational, and teams were working through logistical challenges across the Gulf Coast region to resume normal levels of transportation to and from shore Efforts were underway to locate and recover teveral riser joints and the lower marine riser package separated from the rig during the storm and sank to the bottom. If necessary, the company planned replace any missing or damaged equipment promptly. One of the ship's cofferdams in the moonpool area sustained damage which did not compromise the stability or structural integrity of the rig nor the safety of personnel on board. The vessel successfully secured, the well and detached from the blowout preventer in place on the well as part of its departure procedures. Report with photo: https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-responds-noble-globetrotter-ii-near-grand-isle-la/

Ship being assessed after hurricane encounter

The 'Globetrotter II' continued to operate under its own power with functional marine and safety systems following its encounter with Hurricane Ida in the Gulf of Mexico. The crew was safe, and all personnel has been accounted for. Nine crew members sustained minor injuries during the storm and were treated onboard the rig, four of whom have since been transported to shore for evaluation. Noble was in frequent communication with the crew and was working to facilitate additional transport for some crew members to shore, as well as replacement personnel to support ongoing operations. The living quarters of the vessel continued to function normally with food service, climate control, water, power, and internet systems functional. The vessel’s helideck was fully operational and the company working through logistical challenges to resume normal levels of transportation to and from shore. Several riser joints and the lower marine riser package separated from the ship during the storm and sank to the seabed. Efforts were underway to locate and recover the equipment, and Noble believed it could replace any missing or damaged equipment promptly if necessary. A cofferdam on the ship was damaged in the storm and took on a limited amount of water, which was not critical to the vessel’s safety or stability. The ship successfully secured the well and detached from the blowout preventer in place on the well as part of its departure procedures. The crew was in the process of completing a full assessment of the vessel and Noble will take appropriate actions to ensure the proper repair of all systems.