May 2024: ARO Drilling introduces the groundbreaking offshore rig "Kingdom 2."
ARO Offshore Drilling and International Maritime Industries (IMI) proudly announces the delivery and unveiling of their second jack-up rig, "Kingdom 2”.
This pioneering achievement heralds a new era of innovation and excellence in offshore energy exploration, positioning Saudi Arabia as a formidable player in the global energy sector.
Ahmad Al Sa’adi, Chairman of IMI, said: “Delivering KINGDOM-1 was a major ‘first’ for IMI. Delivering a second rig less than six months later represents something different. It shows that rig-building at scale is ‘business as usual’ for IMI and shines a spotlight on the company as an emerging regional maritime leader. KINGDOM-2 also demonstrates the strength of our partnerships, with ARO and Lamprell in this instance, and how, together, we are boosting the region’s offshore capabilities.”
Abdulhameed Al-Dughaither, Chairman of ARO, said: “With the arrival of Kingdom-2, we've reached another major milestone in our pursuit of ARO's ambitions. This achievement showcases our relentless drive for growth, capacity expansion, and operational excellence. As we continue to build upon this momentum, our growing fleet of offshore rigs will drive us forward, enabling us to realize our vision and shape the future of our industry."
Mohammed Hejazi, CEO of ARO, said “ARO drilling continues with momentum with its ambitious 20 rig New Build program, the Kingdom series. Today, we celebrate the delivery of Kingdom 2 as the rig joins her sister rig Kingdom 1 currently operating for Saudi Aramco. The entire ARO team is committed to ensuring the continued success of our partnership with our in-Kingdom building partner, IMI. We recognize this project goes beyond construction of Jack Up rigs.
These are exciting times. We eagerly look forward to the Safe start-up of Kingdom 2 and kicking off the construction of the next Kingdom rigs as we grow our fleet. ARO Drillings Kingdom program with its committed work scope uniquely positions our company for decades”
As Saudi Arabia charts a course towards economic diversification and energy sustainability through initiatives like Vision 2030, "Kingdom 2" emerges as a tangible symbol of progress and prosperity. By harnessing domestic expertise and investing in cutting-edge technologies, Aro Offshore Drilling Co is playing a pivotal role in realizing the Kingdom's vision for a vibrant and resilient energy industry.
-ENDS-
About ARO Drilling:
ARO Drilling is a world-class offshore drilling contractor that owns, operates, and manages a fleet of high-specification and premium jack-up rigs in Saudi Arabia. ARO Drilling is a joint venture between Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas company, and Valaris, an industry-leading, global offshore drilling contractor. This joint venture marks a major milestone towards the development of a competitive Saudi energy sector, as encapsulated in Aramco’s In-Kingdom Total Value Add (iktva) program and Saudi Vision 2030.
Find out more: www.arodrilling.com
About International Maritime Industries:
Located at Ras Al-Khair on Saudi Arabia’s eastern seaboard, International Maritime Industries (IMI) is the largest maritime facility in the MENA region, with global ambitions and reach. IMI’s full-service yard will be capable of building 4 new offshore rigs and more than 43 vessels including 3 VLCCs per year, as well as providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for more than 260 maritime products annually. State-of-the-art technologies including artificial intelligence, biometrics and the Internet of Things are embedded into the yard’s infrastructure, offering customers a cutting-edge advantage in an era of digitalization. IMI is an Aramco sponsored joint venture (JV) with partners Bahri, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Lamprell.
Find out more: www.imi-ksa.com