I don't know if you can see it in the back there, but what the hell is this thing and what is it doing there.
Ocean Monarch, a semi submersible drilling rig, is the property of US firm Diamond Offshore Drilling, and it will have spent about 30 days sitting between City Beach and Rottnest Island as it has maintenance work before heading to Bass Strait, Victoria.The 105m wide deep-water platform has made the long journey from Singapore travelling at an average speed of 8km/h.When fully operational the platform is home to more than 100 people and can drill to depths of almost 11,000m.
It looks like a semi submersible drill rig, it is used to find oil and gas in most cases but can also be used to to drill large outfall holes for sewage disposal, there are probably other uses too.
You sound offended? do you use a car? heat your home? use electricity? have anything made of plastic? live in a town, village or city? It's not your enemy, it's part of your way of life...........
It's back! I used to live on Marine Pde, 3 doors north of OBH, and used to record when the rigs came to Rotto. That was 1979_81, it was always great to see them back! But 8ks an hr, woah, don't go too fast, might tip it on the corners!! 
thewest.com.au/news/wabeachgoers-left-guessing-at-role-of-gigantic-rig-off-city-beach-the-ocean-monarch-ng-b88671889z
Really? Left guessing? Maybe the dopey reporter was, or some people no longer have a clue or ever look west anymore.... sheesh 
To all tense and purposes its an oil rig platform but secretly its a USA submersible launch platform for sea to air rocket missiles
Parked there for a month for 'repairs and maintenance'? I don't believe it, surely it's drilling/fracking and we're too stupid to see the truth. Petey, is it true? 
Select to expand quoteSurf69 said..
8 knots average for the tow is pretty damn fast for a semi sub.
8 knots would be fast but it averaged 8km/h
I sailed past them on the way to Sydney many years ago, and waved to the guys working (prob shouldn't have been that close but hey, different era!)
If there's that much above water, much of them is below water?
Anyone work on one, all I've seen is on an old VB advert "Matter of fact I've go one now!". Looks like thirsty work.
Could be some big fish under it I imagine?
Select to expand quotemyusernam said..Surf69 said..
8 knots average for the tow is pretty damn fast for a semi sub.
8 knots would be fast but it averaged 8km/h
Ohhhh, doh.
www.diamondoffshore.com/assets/Documents/14%20-%20Monarch.pdf
Design............................... Enhanced Victory Class
Year Entered Service....... Upgraded 2008
Classification.................... ABS, +A1 Column Stabilized Drilling Unit
Dimensions...................... 351 ft long x 356 ft wide (including helideck) x 128 ft high
Draft.................................. 74.5 ft operating / 41.5 ft transit
Displacement................... 42,569T operating
Variable Deck................... 6,000T operating
Transit Speed................... up to 4 knots
Water Depth..................... 10,000 ft
Drilling Depth................... 35,000 ft
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
^^^ Just had 6.4 metres of draught.
Or was it litres?
I dunno.
I thought the same thing, but it used that spelling. I checked, draft/draught are interchangeable. 6.4 litres of draught does sound good though
