April 03, 2008 Message from IODP-MI - Industry-Sponsored Drilling Program Could Emerge from New Consortium
The new and improved JOIDES Resolution continues undergoing a complete refurbishment in a Singapore shipyard.
What’s been done?
The demolition including deckhouse and lab stack has been completed as well as the drydocking for underwater work and hull painting. Steel construction is essentially complete with the new deckhouse and all the new lower decks fabricated and mounted. After refurbishment, equipment such as the derrick, drilling equipment, thrusters, propulsion motors and emergency generator have been re-installed. Equipment foundations, stairs, handrails, etc. have also been fitted. New equipment such as anchor windlass, water maker, incinerator, motor generator set, and fans has been installed and more is underway. A new wireline heave compensator for logging has been developed, constructed and land based tested.
What about Labs and Accommodations?
The all new labs and accommodations are being outfitted with insulation, plumbing, WCs/showers, ducting, electrical cable, exterior doors and windows. This will be followed by interior partitions and doors, lighting, ceilings, floor coverings, furnishings, lab equipment, and other outfitting. The purchase and development of most laboratory analytical systems and IT equipment has been completed and testing and integration is underway. The few remaining science equipment items are nearing completion.
When will the JOIDES Resolution be done?
Delivery from the shipyard is currently anticipated in August 2008. After installation of science equipment, loading of supplies, at-sea testing and transit, the JOIDES Resolution is currently scheduled to begin IODP operations in November 2008.
Why have there been so many delays?
Demand for time in shipyards is at all-time high levels. Labor is stretched among too many large ship projects worldwide therefore the shipyard cannot keep up with the schedule agreed to when the project began. This is a global problem and projects large and small are many months behind schedule and over budget. Recently, Bob Gagosian, president and CEO of Consortium for Ocean Leadership, and Steve Bohlen, Ocean Leadership’s president for the JOI Division, met with the vice president for western hemisphere operations for Transocean – the world’s largest offshore drilling contractor and manager of the refurbishment of the JOIDES Resolution – to discuss specific actions Transocean will be taking in the coming weeks to ensure that the ship is ready for IODP as soon as possible. All senior managers for scientific ocean drilling programs at Ocean Leadership are committed to doing everything possible to achieve an on time delivery of the ship on our current schedule.
Where can I see the progress?
This site includes a photo chronology of initial demolition and ongoing renovation work
What is happening to IODP expeditions on the JOIDES Resolution?
Because we now anticipate the JOIDES Resolution to be ready for IODP expeditions in November 2008, the program is still committed to implementing the Canterbury Basin and Wilkes Land expeditions within the timeframes currently identified (November 2008 to January 2009 and January to March 2009, respectively).
However, the Pacific Equatorial Age Transect/Juan de Fuca expedition will have to be pushed back. The Bering Sea expedition will be returned to the Operations Task Force for future scheduling consideration.
In FY 2009 and FY 2010, IODP expects to implement four expeditions per year on the riserless platform JOIDES Resolution. Program officials are working to secure long-term solutions to the budget shortfalls that impact our ability to conduct operations. Efforts are underway by program administrators to organize an industry consortium that will work on the JOIDES Resolution and make use of its facilities while the ship is not carrying out IODP expeditions. Other long-term alternatives to fill the gaps are also being investigated for FY 2009 and beyond, and if an industry consortium were successfully established, it would begin operating in FY 2010 at the earliest.
What are we looking to the community for?
We welcome all input from friends of the program. It takes the engaged involvement of past, present and future participants in IODP to make this succeed, and we want to hear from you with your ideas. Please feel free to contact IODP U.S. Implementing Organization staff at Ocean Leadership with questions or comments.
