The semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel GPO Sapphire, operated by GPO Heavy Lift, is currently carrying the jack-up drilling rig PV Drilling IX on a voyage from Europe to Southeast Asia after loading the unit at the Port of Rotterdam.

Ship-tracking data shows that the vessel departed Rotterdam on 6 November and is now sailing in East African waters. The transport is scheduled to arrive at Vung Tau, Vietnam, on 23 December 2025.

Within the GPO Heavy Lift fleet, GPO Sapphire is one of four semi-submersible heavy-lift vessels in operation. All four units are built to the same specification: 65,000 dwt, an overall length of 225 m, a beam of 48 m and a deck length of 183 m, enabling them to carry large offshore units such as jack-up rigs.

PV Drilling IX is the new name for the harsh-environment jack-up rig Noble Highlander, built in 2015/2016. The rig was previously owned by Noble Corporation and was acquired by PV Drilling (Petrovietnam Drilling) in September 2025 for $65 million. Before the transaction, the unit had been cold-stacked in Denmark and is now being brought back into service for work in the Asia-Pacific offshore drilling market from early 2026, adding capacity to PV Drilling’s fleet.

The rig is based on the Friede Goldman 2000E jack-up design, which is widely used in offshore basins with demanding safety and technical standards, including the North Sea, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. PV Drilling IX is fitted with a highly automated integrated NOV BLM jacking system. It is capable of drilling to 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and operating in water depths of up to 425 feet (129.5 m), and is regarded as a high-technology unit suitable for long-term drilling campaigns in fields with complex geology and stringent technical requirements.

Following the transport, PV Drilling IX is scheduled to commence operations for its first client at the end of March 2026 or early April 2026.