Northern Ocean has secured more work for its semisubmersible rig with the signing of a contract with a Shell subsidiary for the Deepsea Mira, which will start drilling offshore Namibia in April 2026. The deal covers one firm exploration well with an option for a second. The firm slot is expected to run for around 45 days and carries an estimated value of $16m, lifting Northern Ocean’s firm backlog to about $387m. The 2018-built rig is already lined up for additional work before heading to Shell. In November, Northern Ocean amended its contract with Rhino Resources to include an extra firm well test, extending the commitment by a further 28 days. That work will take place ahead of three existing optional wells. The Shell award comes as Northern Ocean continues to reshape its fleet. The company recently sold its other semisub, the Deepsea Bollsta, to Odfjell Drilling for $480m. The 2019-built unit has been under Odfjell’s management since early 2022 and is on a firm charter with Equinor through the first quarter of 2028, with five one-year extension options. The latest contract keeps the Mira active into 2026 and underlines the continued strength of Namibia’s offshore exploration push, where several recent deepwater discoveries have drawn growing rig demand. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsNamibia Norway