In 1975, on another beach, 5,000 kilometres to the west, on Cockburn Sound, south of Perth, Transfield completed a giant new oil exploration rig. The Ocean Endeavour is a 20,000 tonne semi-submersible, self-propelled platform, the second of its kind ever built in Australia. The construction site was nothing more than a dredged beach allowing the completed rig to be towed out from a flooded basin.
Unfortunately, the project was plagued by industrial disputation resulting in major overruns. By the time of launching, in September 1975, oil exploration in Australia slumped and the rig was towed away to work off Tunisia. However the project won for Transfield the first of four coveted Construction Achievement Awards.
Video: Ocean Endeavour Launch.