Gulf of Mexico Drilling Contract a Record Breaker for Maersk

Maersk Drilling  say a new $610 million Gulf of Mexico drilling contract was at the highest daily rates it has ever had for a rig

Maersk informed Reuters Africa that the three-year contract for a job starting in 2014 is for the first in a series of four identical ultra deepwater drillships currently under construction in South Korea for Maersk Drilling.

The basic daily rate under the contract is $548,000, but the rate could rise to $585,000-$590,000 if all bonuses are paid, Maersk Drilling head of strategy and communication Michael Harboe-Jorgensen told Reuters.

"This is the highest rate we have seen for our ultra deepwater units," Harboe-Jorgensen said.