Noble Corporation has agreed to sell its sixth-generation tanker, Noble Globetrotter II, for $38 million. This move is part of Noble's plan to reduce underutilized assets and optimize its drilling fleet. The deal is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2026. Noble has not yet disclosed the identity of the buyer or the future purpose of this tanker.
Details of Noble Globetrotter II's Activities
Noble Globetrotter II, designed for operations in water depths up to 10,000 feet, has been inactive since April 2024 after completing activities for Shell in the Gulf of Mexico. Noble's CEO, Robert Eifler, confirmed during the company's third-quarter earnings conference that this tanker will be removed from the offshore drilling fleet after the sale. This decision is aimed at reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of Noble's drilling fleet.
Read more: The Trump administration focused on Venezuelan oil with a stop at Chris Christie
Noble's Plans for Fleet Optimization
Noble had previously announced in August 2025 that it intended to sell this unit due to prolonged inactivity and lack of competitiveness compared to other ultra-deepwater tankers in its fleet. The sale of Noble Globetrotter II is just one of Noble's actions towards fleet optimization. The company has also sold the tanker Noble Resolve, which recently concluded with an additional $45 million from this deal.
Additionally, Noble is pursuing a comprehensive plan to optimize its fleet, which includes selling six other tankers, including five units to Borr Drilling. Meanwhile, the sister tanker of Noble Globetrotter II, Noble Globetrotter I, has recently signed a new contract with Occidental in Peru, which will commence in the second quarter of 2027 and generate $400,000 daily.
Following this contract, the tanker will join a three-year contract for shallow-water activities with TotalEnergies in West Africa, which will include at least 150 days per year. Noble has also reported that as part of its strategy, it has so far reported $6.7 billion in backlog contracts as of October 26, which includes about $560 million in new awards since the last fleet status update.
Read more: Brent oil price drops to $114.70 amid Middle East developments · Sanctioned Russian tankers are heading towards the United States
