The Deepsea Mira drilling rig is on its way to Walvis Bay after successfully completing its drilling contract with Shell> offshore Namibia. The rig, owned by Northern Ocean and managed by Odfjell Drilling, completed its contract on 2 July 2026 after starting work on 4 April 2026.

During the contract, the Deepsea Mira earned its full contractual day rate through to completion. Although Shell had the option to extend the contract for a second well, the company decided not to do so.
According to Northern Ocean, the contract is expected to generate approximately USD31 million (about N$503 million) in revenue, which will be included in the company’s second-quarter financial results. The company said operating costs remained in line with expectations.

The Deepsea Mira is now being demobilised to Walvis Bay, where it will undergo planned upgrades and modifications to prepare for future operations. Northern Ocean said it continues to market the rig and submit bids for new drilling opportunities.

The company is encouraged by the current demand for harsh-environment drilling rigs and believes the Deepsea Mira is well positioned to secure more work during the second half of 2026. The Deepsea Mira is a semi-submersible drilling rig based on the Moss Maritime CS60 design. It can drill in water depths of up to 10 000 feet (about 3 050 metres).

The rig also meets the requirements for operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and is fully winterised for drilling in harsh weather conditions. Northern Ocean is expected to release its half-year financial report on 28 August 2026.

By Eileen van der Schyff

Sources: Northern Ocean, Offshore Engineer, MarketWatch