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Signal Enters Deck Barge Market - 06/18/2009 Frontier Driller final phase completed ahead of schedule - 06/04/2009 Signal Delivers Two Rigs on schedule for Diamond Offshore - 05/07/2009 Employees Rank Job Satisfaction Extremely High at Signal - 02/25/2009 Signal Wins First Round of Noble Drillship Work - 01/12/2009 Signal Enters Deck Barge MarketPASCAGOULA, MS–18 JUNE 2009–Signal International, LLC announced today that the company will build a 300’ x 100’ ocean deck barge for Signet Maritime Corporation. The barge will be built at Signal’s Orange, TX shipyard, with delivery scheduled for the first quarter 2010. In line with Signal’s marketing plan, large deck barges will be a continued product line for Orange, with multiple designs currently being offered.
Cutting of the first steel for the Signet /Signal 300 x 100 Barge Signal’s yard in Orange has undergone a major transformation to elevate its marine and heavy manufacturing capability to world-class standards. Significant capital investment and process changes have been implemented over the past two years.The primary focus has been on improving the workflow within the nearly 500,000 square foot covered manufacturing area and increasing automation. Under a continuous flow manufacturing initiative developed by Signal’s Industrial Engineering Department, along with Engineering, Planning, Procurement, and Production, costs and schedule have been dramatically reduced with no sacrifice in quality or safety. By example, Signal has worked almost 700,000 hours through May without a recordable safety incident. During this same period the welding reject rate was less than one-half percent. Dick Marler, Signal’s CEO and President stated, “Signal’s expansion into the large deck barge market is a natural for our operations in Orange. The Orange yard has built barges in the past and we still have experienced production and management personnel who were part of that effort.” He added, “We have challenged our workforce to develop new methods and tools to be successful in a competitive market. With low steel prices and our vastly improved productivity now is the time for potential customers to take a hard look at expanding their fleets with a Signal product.” Barry Snyder, President of Signet Maritime, remarked that, “Signet is optimistic about our market for ocean-going deck barges. Jointly, Signal and Signet have developed a superior extra heavy deck strength design to minimize the customer’s need for load equalization that will be in high demand to work in the offshore market. Our design features a 5,000-pound per square foot deck strength for large loads and a radial bow, reducing residual resistance for efficient towing. This will not be the last barge of this type that we will order.” Snyder also stated, “We looked at a number of barge builders and selected Signal due to their insistence on superior quality, competitive price, building approach, and up to date facilities.” He added, “We were particularly pleased with what we saw at Orange where the entire facility had been revamped. When I visited with the Signal personnel and watched their process as we cut the first plate, I was impressed. The emphasis is on processing steel as efficiently as possible. Virtually every step in that process has been improved to wring out unnecessary costs. I feel confident that Signal will become a leader in vessel construction of this type.” About Signal International: Signal International, LLC, is one of the largest marine and fabrication companies in the Gulf of Mexico providing repair, upgrade, new construction and fabrication services to the offshore and marine industry. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Signal currently employs over 1,500 workers in its six production facilities, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. About Signet Maritime Corporation:
Signet Maritime Corporation is a diverse international marine transportation and logistics company. Our concentration is in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East for Offshore Marine & Energy Services, Rig Movements, Harbor Tugboat Operations, Petroleum Transport & Vessel Bunkering, and Barge Transport Services – Total Turnkey Project Management. Thirty-three years of continuous engagements have included technical project support services involving construction contracting, on-site representation, and project cargo transport. Signet is Certified by ABS to ISO 9001:2008 and ISM, as well as STCW-95, MTSA, AWO-RCP. For more information, contact: Frontier Driller final phase completed ahead of schedulePASCAGOULA, MS–03 JUNE 2009–Signal International is pleased to announce the delivery of the Frontier Driller semisubmersible rig which underwent a major upgrade and modernization at its East Bank yard in Pascagoula, MS. The scope of work encompassed starting with a veteran semisubmersible rig; renovating and outfitting it with updated drilling and marine equipment to render the rig capable of drilling deeper wells. Major tasks such as construction of new derrick (single lift), new BOP handling structure, addition of winch decks (4 corners), new riser decks, new ROV deck, raised mud pit roof, converted chain lockers to bulk mud tanks, and new cement deck. Large structures required major lifts of 50 tons – to larger lifts of 300+ tons; all done safely as planned and scheduled by the yard. The helicopter deck was set and secured (crane released for other work) in record time - less than one work shift. New forward and aft lifeboat decks were set and secured in less than one shift, as safety, planning, engineering and production personnel cooperated to expedite the tasks. Signal accommodated the rigorous demands of the task by expanding engineering capabilities and production methodologies as needed. Demands included: no rain out lost time, bonus work incentive, strict head counts, along with daily and weekly planning meetings. The final phase of this project consisted of fabricating and installing one thousand tons of steel, adding two pontoon sponsons and four columns to the huge rig in 61 days. Signal fabricated one new column, while subcontracting and managing the fabrication of the remaining components. The three fabricated columns were each received in three unfinished sections. Each column was assembled and outfitted with ladders, man-ways and vent piping, then blasted and painted internally and externally in accordance with client specifications. Dick Marler, President and CEO of Signal, credits the experience of his management team and craft workers for completing the job successfully. “Ron Schnoor, Signal’s COO and Senior VP of Mississippi Operations did an outstanding job bringing our resources together and completing this contract. Older rigs are always a challenge to re-engineer and upgrade to today’s standards and capabilities. This job was done right and Frontier has a first class rig that will be productive for many years to come.” About Signal International: Signal International, LLC, is one of the largest marine and fabrication companies in the Gulf of Mexico providing repair, upgrade, new construction and fabrication services to the offshore and marine industry. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Signal has six production facilities, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. For more information, contact: Signal Delivers Two Rigs on schedule for Diamond OffshorePASCAGOULA, MS–07 MAY 2009–Signal International, L.L.P. announced the recent completion and return to service of two Diamond Offshore rigs, the Ocean Titan and the Ocean America. The LeTourneau Class 64 jackup, Ocean Titan, entered Signal’s East Pascagoula, Mississippi yard for modifications and repairs on 06 March 2009 and departed on 14 April 2009. Meanwhile, another Diamond rig, the eight-column semisubmersible Ocean America, was delivered 07 May 2009, two days ahead of schedule from Signal’s Dry Dock at Port Arthur, Texas undergoing periodic inspection procedures and customer-planned modifications. “Simultaneous performance of these two projects, one at dockside in Mississippi and the other on dry dock in Texas, demonstrates the wide geographic span of Signal’s GoM service capability, said Dick Marler, President and CEO of Signal. In the past we have also served Diamond and other drilling contractors with on-location work, which enables the rig owner to accomplish significant rig servicing work while experiencing little or no operational downtime”. In addition to ensuring compliance with ABS Special survey requirements for both rigs, upgrades and modifications to the Ocean Titan included installation of an extension to the BOP control system house, fabrication of two new life boat platforms and replacement of 500 feet of leg jet piping and hangers. Repairs and modifications to the Ocean America included tank cleaning; contain, blast and paint columns, deck box, tubular supports and derrick; removal and reinstallation of anchor chain for inspection; sacrificial anode installation and replacement of the drilling mud treatment system. About Signal International: Signal International, LLC, is one of the largest marine and fabrication companies in the Gulf of Mexico providing repair, upgrade, new construction and fabrication services to the offshore and marine industry. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Signal has six production facilities, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. For more information, contact: Employees Rank Job Satisfaction Extremely High at SignalPASCAGOULA, MS –25 February 2009–A recent survey commissioned by Signal’s Human Resources Department revealed employees rate their employer and job satisfaction at Signal as extremely high. The survey was conducted by a third-party vendor, in conjunction with an employee benefits program review at Signal. A cross-sampling of over 2500 employees throughout the organization were polled. An overwhelming 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were very satisfied with their employment at Signal. Some 93% also responded that they received appropriate recognition for their contributions and work. “The results are very positive,” remarked Dick Marler, Chairman and CEO of Signal International. “Our continual emphasis on fair employment practices and safety as a top priority enables our employees to perform their job in a safe, healthy and productive work place, leading to high job satisfaction. Mutual respect and professionalism among all employees is the glue that holds outstanding companies together in good times and bad.” About Signal International: Signal International, LLC, is one of the largest marine and fabrication companies in the Gulf of Mexico providing repair, upgrade, new construction and fabrication services to the offshore and marine industry. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Signal has six production facilities, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. For more information, contact: Signal Wins First Round of Noble Drillship WorkPASCAGOULA, MS –12 January 2009–Signal International has been selected to construct key components to be used in a drillship reliability upgrade program for Noble Corporation. This agreement covers the first of three Noble drillships scheduled for upgrades. Signal will fabricate the components at the Company’s shipyards in Mississippi and Texas. It is anticipated that more that 1,000 employees will be working on this project, including approximately 800 in Texas and 200 in Mississippi. The project will commence in early 2009. Once completed, the components will be shipped to Brazil for installation. Signal’s portion of the contract is valued at more than $50 million. "We are delighted to have been chosen by Noble for this reliability upgrade program. Noble is a longstanding and highly valued customer,” said Dick Marler, President and CEO of Signal. “Our team and our facilities are well-suited for this type of fabrication project work, which we believe will position us well to win the additional two drillship upgrade opportunities from Noble. If that occurs, the project’s total scope would exceed $150 million and extend into 2011.” The upgrade and modernization is designed to enhance the reliability and operational performance of the Noble’s drillships, which are working under long-term contracts to Petrobras. The project will include equipping the Noble drillships with DP2 technology, along with new power management systems, generators and thrusters. This will be accomplished by the fabrication of a new stern section that will house all new generators, switchgear and thrusters. Noble also plans for its three drillships to receive new sponsons equipped with additional thrusters, a new accommodations block, and a new heliport. The stern and sponsons will be constructed in Signal’s facility in Orange, Texas and the accommodations block and heliports will be built in Pascagoula, Mississippi at Signal’s East Bank Yard. About Noble: Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 63 offshore drilling units (including five rigs currently under construction) located worldwide, including in the Middle East, India, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, the North Sea, Brazil, and West Africa. Noble’s ordinary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NE”. Additional information on Noble Corporation is available via the worldwide web at http://www.noblecorp.com. About Signal International: Signal International, LLC, is one of the largest marine and fabrication companies in the Gulf of Mexico providing repair, upgrade, new construction and fabrication services to the offshore and marine industry. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Signal has six production facilities, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. For more information, contact: |
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