Byford Dolphin

	Byford Dolphin in dry dock at Invergordon, Scotland, in 2008
History
Name	Byford Dolphin; Deep Sea Driller (1974–1978);
Owner	Byford Dolphin Pte. Ltd. (Fred. Olsen Energy)
Operator	Dolphin Drilling
Port of registry	Singapore; Panama (1974–2005);
Builder	Aker Group
Yard number	Aker Verdal A/S (695)
Laid down	31 October 1972
Completed	1 February 1974
Out of service	Laidup 2016
Identification	Call sign: 9VDG7; DNV ID: 09092; IMO number: 8750584; MMSI no.: 563601000;
Fate	Beached Aliağa and scrapped 2019
Notes
General characteristics
Class and type	DNV class: 1A1 Column-stabilised Drilling Unit UKVS
Tonnage	11,792 GT; 3,538 GT;
Length	108.2 m (355 ft)
Beam	67.4 m (221 ft)
Depth	36.6 m (120 ft)
Speed	4.5 kn
Capacity	Variable Deck Lo: 3,021 t; Liquid Mud: 3,981 bbls (534 m3); Bulk Mud/Cement: 547 t / 270 t;
Crew	102 berths
Notes

Byford Dolphin was a semi-submersible, column-stabilised drilling rig operated by Dolphin Drilling, a Fred Olsen Energy subsidiary. It drilled seasonally for various companies in the British, Danish, and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. It was registered in Hamilton, Bermuda.^[1] In 2019, Dolphin scrapped the rig.^[3]

The rig was the site of several serious incidents, most notably an explosive decompression in 1983 that killed four divers and one dive tender, as well as badly injuring another dive tender.^[4]

^ ^a ^b ^c "Byford Dolphin (09092)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 14 July 2010.^{[dead link]}
^ ^a ^b "Byford Dolphin". Fred.Olsen Energy ASA. 24 February 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
^ Byford Dolphin diving incident casts long shadow 40 years on - Energy Voice, 4 Nov 2023
^ Giertsen JC, Sandstad E, Morild I, Bang G, Bjersand AJ, Eidsvik S (June 1988). "An explosive decompression accident". American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 9 (2): 94–101. doi:10.1097/00000433-198806000-00002. PMID 3381801. S2CID 41095645.

[dnv1-1] "Byford Dolphin (09092)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 14 July 2010.^{[dead link]}

[fredolsen-2] "Byford Dolphin". Fred.Olsen Energy ASA. 24 February 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2010.

[3] Byford Dolphin diving incident casts long shadow 40 years on - Energy Voice, 4 Nov 2023

[pmid3381801-4] Giertsen JC, Sandstad E, Morild I, Bang G, Bjersand AJ, Eidsvik S (June 1988). "An explosive decompression accident". American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 9 (2): 94–101. doi:10.1097/00000433-198806000-00002. PMID 3381801. S2CID 41095645.

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History
Byford Dolphin in dry dock at Invergordon, Scotland, in 2008
Name	Byford Dolphin Deep Sea Driller (1974–1978)
Owner	Byford Dolphin Pte. Ltd. (Fred. Olsen Energy)
Operator	Dolphin Drilling
Port of registry	Singapore Panama (1974–2005)
Builder	Aker Group
Yard number	Aker Verdal A/S (695)
Laid down	31 October 1972
Completed	1 February 1974
Out of service	Laidup 2016
Identification	Call sign: 9VDG7 DNV ID: 09092 IMO number: 8750584 MMSI no.: 563601000
Fate	Beached Aliağa and scrapped 2019
Notes	^[1]^[2]
General characteristics
Class and type	DNV class: 1A1 Column-stabilised Drilling Unit UKVS
Tonnage	11,792 GT 3,538 GT
Length	108.2 m (355 ft)
Beam	67.4 m (221 ft)
Depth	36.6 m (120 ft)
Speed	4.5 kn
Capacity	Variable Deck Lo: 3,021 t Liquid Mud: 3,981 bbls (534 m³) Bulk Mud/Cement: 547 t / 270 t
Crew	102 berths
Notes	^[1]^[2]