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Background: Looking like an aircraft carrier in miniature, this massive floating oil drill arrived in Port Said at the head of the Suez Canal on Monday, October 14.

Built in Europe for the Abou Dhabi Marins Areas Ltd, the floating platform was on its way through to the Persian Gulf and moored in Port Said harbour before going on through the Canal on Wednesday,m October 16.

Towed by a large ocean-going tug, the huge construction floated slowly past the long mole which guards the entrance to the canal - once the site of the famous statue to Ferdinand De Lesseps, builder of the controversial international seaway.

Weighing over 4,000 tons, the huge platform was completing a journey of 6,000 miles which will take it far into the Persian Gulf.

Over 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, the hugev raft draws 15 feet of water and is conspicuous for four huge "legs" at each corner of the flat deck. Capable of being dropped over 160 feet into the water, the "legs" will raise the platform 40 feet above sea level when drilling operations are in progress.