Page 23: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (May/Jun 2025)

22 24

hen Calvin Norton joined Friede & Setter project. A revision in ABS rules required a complete

Goldman in the early 1960s, the off- redesign of key connections in the bracing system — mid- shore industry was still in its adolescence. build. Norton was dispatched to work directly with the

W

Floating drilling rigs were evolving, jack- shipyard team to ensure compliance without material waste.

ups were fnding their legs — literally — and the Gulf of “That project taught me the importance of thorough plan

Mexico was the focal point of offshore activity. Over the review and the value of being meticulous,” Norton said. “It next six decades, Norton would witness, and help shape, was then I really developed my approach to structural plan one of the most remarkable engineering evolutions in checks, which I carried through the rest of my career.” modern industrial history. From semis to jack-ups — including the L780 series, Mod

Now retired after 60 years with F&G — just shy of the 2, Mod 5, and JU2000 variants — Norton’s work helped company’s own 75-year anniversary — Norton sat down defne the hardware of deepwater exploration for decades.

with Offshore Engineer to refect on a career that bridged swamp rigs and semisubmersibles, deepwater challenges and THE DEEPWATER REVOLUTION digital tools, and a new frontier in offshore wind energy. “Back when I started, 600 feet was considered deep,”

Norton noted. “Now it’s 12,000 ft.”

BEGINNINGS IN THE BAYOU The push into deeper waters had a cascading effect on rig

Norton’s maritime journey began in a small New Or- design, infuencing everything from riser tensioning systems leans-area shipyard building tugboats and barges. But it to mud circulation volumes, deck loads, and structural re- was a task involving the reactivation of a cold-stacked LST quirements. “It impacts everything the design team does— (Landing Ship Tank) turned tender-assisted rig that set his from structural engineering to naval architecture,” he said.

career on course. One of the biggest challenges, Norton added, was bal- “During the Coast Guard survey, it was found that the ancing added capability with cost control. “As the rigs grew low-voltage cables didn’t meet new regulations,” Norton in complexity and size, so did the costs,” he said. “It forced recalled. “I got the short straw and had to redesign the us to constantly look for smarter, more effcient ways to electrical system.” support the evolving equipment loads.”

It was during this project that a visiting engineer — who had helped build the original drilling equipment — men- tored Norton on the intricacies of offshore systems. “That lit the fre,” he said. Not long after, Norton joined Friede & Goldman, where he would begin a legendary career in offshore design.

DESIGNING FOR AN EXPANDING INDUSTRY

One of Norton’s frst major projects at F&G was the SED-

CO 135 series of semisubmersibles, soon followed by the now-iconic Pace Setter designs of the 1970s. “Every job was different,” he said. “That’s what kept me in it for so long.”

A standout moment came in the early days of the Pace

The SEDCO 135 series of semisubmersibles.

MAY/JUNE 2025 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 23