An item reported that the Dutch partnership Nederlandsche Scheepvaart Unie (NSU) decided to let her drill ships to be built in Japan. The Mitsubish-yard was ordered to convert a former bulk carrier into a drill ship. There was an option for the conversion of a second bulk carrier. Her subsidiary Neddrill would become responsible for the exploitation of both ships which were to be handed over in the second half of 1976. Another Dutch newspaper Limburgsch dagblad dated 18 July reported that the NSU was forced to choose for Mitsubishi when it became clear that all Japanese shipyards were much cheaper compared with the European yards. The two NSU-freighters were to be converted into drill ships capable for drilling to a depth of 300 respectively 60o metres.
Notes
1. The ships were the Goeree and the Schouwen/ The Goeree was in 1963 built at the shipyard of IHC Offshore&Marine, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Netherlands for the Scheepvaart Maatschappij Trition at Rotterdam and in July 1970 handed over to the Holland Bulk Transport at Amsterdam. She arrived on 28 October 1975 at Yokohama for her conversion into a so-called anchor handling drill ship. As the Neddrill 1 was she since 19 July 1976 managed by the Neddrill 1 B.V. at Rotterdam until she was broken up at the Gadani Beach, Pakistan in 1988. As the Neddrill 1was she Saint Vincent&Grenadines-flagged. IMO 5404574. Gross tonnage 12.125 tons and a deadweight of 10.868 tons.
The Schouwen arrived on 17 May 1976 at Yokohama, Japan for her conversion into a dynamic positioning drill ship. As the Meddrill 2 was she since 28 March 1977 managed by Neddrill 2 B.V. at Rotterdam. In 1996 transferred to the Noble Drilling Company UK of Aberdeen, England and renamed into the Liberian-flagged Noble Roger Eason. Managed by Noble Do Brasil, Macea, Brasil. IMO 5315474, MMSI 636011819 and callsign A8B07. Specifications as the Neddrill 2 were her dimensions 151,26 (between perpendiculars)-165 (over all) x 27,36 (moulded) x 9,22 (summer) and a hold of 13,19 (keel-upper deck) metres or 496’3”-540’9”x 89’9” x 30’3” and 43’.and a maximum displacement of 25.158 tons. Speed 12 (service with 30’ draught) knots.
