Norway Court Orders Seadrill to Pay SFL $55 Million

The Borgarting Court of Appeal in Norway ordered Seadrill to pay SFL Corporation approximately $55 million (NOK 525 million) after ruling that the company breached its contractual obligations. The dispute centered on the redelivery of the Hercules, a deepwater drilling rig built in 2008, which Seadrill returned to an SFL subsidiary in December 2022.

This unanimous decision upholds a February 2025 ruling from the Oslo District Court, which had initially ordered Seadrill to pay approximately $37 million plus costs. The final amount increased in the appeals court due to the addition of legal costs, late-payment fees, and accrued interest. The legal battle began in March 2023 when SFL Hercules Ltd. filed the original claim.

While the judgment is currently in effect, both parties have one month from the date of service to seek permission from Norway's Supreme Court Appeals Selection Committee to file a further appeal.