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On August 24th, the Endeavor Spirit of Independence arrived in Homer with plans to drill in North West Cook Inlet by the end of October.
The rig is designed for exploratory drilling in cold waters. Buccaneer Energy, the company that brought the vessels to Alaska, says the general alarm and firefighting systems failed tests delaying their departure from Homer. In addition, a fast rescue craft was recalled by the manufacturer and must be replaced.
The company says these issues must all be corrected before the Coast Cuard will issue a certificate of compliance. Buccaneer energy says the problem equipment was installed in Singapore where the rig was refurbished.
“While the delays have been frustrating it’s for the large part outside of our control. Our first order here is to ensure we have the safest possible rig for our crews and also to the environment it's going to operate in,” said Buccaneer’s president and Chief Operating Officer Jim Watt in an interview Friday.
Pending permit approvals, Buccaneer plans to send the rig to a project thirty miles north west of homer before the end of the month.