Sembcorp Marine could be poised to finally offload a semi-submersible drilling rig that has been on its books since late 2015.

“According to rig brokers, the sale of the West Rigel might be on the horizon,” said UOB Kay Hian analysts Foo Zhi Wei and Andrew Chow.

“An improving rig market, especially for harsh environment semisubmersibles, will likely see Sembcorp Marine being able to divest the unit at a favourable price.