New FPSO to join Maersk contractors's fleet

Maersk Contractors has entered into a seven-year contract with Woodside Energy Ltd. Maersk will be providing a Floating Production and Storage Offloading vessel (FPSO) on service agreement basis, for development of Woodside? Vincent oil discovery 50 km North West of Exmouth in Western Australia.

Maersk Contractors will design and manage the construction of the FPSO. The conversion of the 308,000 tdw tanker vessel ELLEN MAERSK into an FPSO will take place at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore from early 2007. Oil production on the Vincent field is expected to start during 2008.

Maersk Contractors is working with the Australian Industry Capability Network (ICNWA) to identify Australian suppliers for inclusion in its tendering processes.

Maersk Contractors expects to assign approximately 60 people to the design and construction phase. Once the FPSO goes into operation, two offshore crews of each 22 people and 10 onshore personnel are required to operate the facility.