Endeavour, The Spirit of Independence jackup to leave Cook Inlet
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (“AIDEA”) sold its stake in Kenai Offshore Ventures (“KOV”) for USD25.6 million and the Endeavour jack-up rig is on its way out of Cook Inlet, the authority announced on 14th November 2014. KOV plans to move the Endeavour next week on a heavy lift vessel to South Africa for use in offshore exploration, AIDEA said in its press release on Friday. The 765-foot heavy lift vessel Zhen Hua 15 arrived in Homer on Tuesday, said Homer Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins. The large, red-orange vessel with a low-slung deck at mid ship has been a prominent ship in Kachemak Bay this past week. Hawkins said he sat in on a meeting on Thursday with the Zhen Hua 15 captain, a rig mover and other crew to discuss the loading of the Endeavour. Ezion Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiary Teras Investments approached AIDEA to purchase its share of Kenai Offshore Ventures after the joint-venture company was unable to secure long-term work for the Endeavour in the Inlet. The Endeavour will head to South Africa on a heavy lift vessel pending final AIDEA approval, the release states.