By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 2�Ocean Rig ASA, Oslo, Friday said it began proceedings in London against Friede Goldman Halter Inc. and its affiliates regarding the halted construction of Ocean Rig�s semisubmersible drilling rigs.
The two fifth-generation semisubmersibles were being outfitted at Friede Goldman�s Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard. The Bingo 9000-1 was slated to leave the Pascagoula shipyard for sea trials in early March and the Bingo 9000-2 in June.
But earlier this week, Friede Goldman said it stopped work on Ocean Rig�s projects because of cost overruns and delays. Friede Goldman said it could not proceed on the projects without a new agreement with Ocean Rig.
On Friday, Friede Goldman said it laid off more than 1,000 of its 6,000 workers and shut down one of its Pascagoula shipyards.