In July 2020, SpaceX purchased 2 ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rigs (8500 and 8501) from Ensco/Valaris for $3.5 million each. The rigs were purchased by limited liability corporation Lone Star Mineral Development. Elon Musk plans to build “floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth.” SpaceX’s Starship offshore platforms are modified oil rigs now under construction to provide a sea launch and landing pad option for their second-generation launch vehicle: the super heavy-lift Starship system, consisting of the Super Heavy booster and Starship second stage.

Tiger Offshore sold (1) DNV47.5 bbl Fluid Transport Tank to SpaceX to use as a diesel fuel tank for a back-up generator on the rig. Pictures here show the actual tank and the proposed modifications we are making to convert it to a true “double walled” fuel storage tank. Also shown are the Ensco 8501 or “Phobos” launch pad before and after conceptual rendering of what it might look like.

By Paul Fussell, Corporate Sales Manager – Tiger Offshore