Offshore driller Valaris has sent three drillships, all less than ten-years-old, to the scrapyard amid continued uncertainty in the offshore market.
According to Clarksons, the company has sold the 2010-built Valaris DS-3, the 2011-built Valaris DS-5 and the 2012-built Valaris DS-6 to a scrapyard in Turkey. VesselsValue data shows the demolition value of the drillships is around $264 per ltd. Valaris bought the vessels from Pride International in a fleet takeover package deal in 2011. The vessels were originally ordered at a price of $725-$750m each.
Valaris has suffered a series of contract cancellations and reduced rates for its drilling units this year as oil and gas operators review their offshore exploration strategies to cope with the impact brought by the outbreak of coronavirus.
In April, Reuters reported that Valaris started negotiations with creditors on the options for a possible bankruptcy filing.
