DOF has signed a contract with Apache Energy Limited (Apache) for Skandi Atlantic for operations in Australia.

The firm period of the contract is 900 days commencing in May 2012. The value of this 900 days contract is approximately NOK 225 million.

Skandi Atlantic is owned by Aker DOF Deepwater AS (ADD) and is the last vessel of 6 sister vessels built at the STX OSV yard in Vietnam.

Mons S. Aase CEO in DOF says: “The contract with Apache is a strategic important contract for both DOF and ADD. It is the first long term contract we win in the Australian market for AHTS vessels.

DOF presently operates 8 vessels in the region. We expect a growing demand for our vessels and services in the region and our ambition is to grow our fleet and organisation out of our Perth office.

The ADD vessels have proven to be well suited for operations world wide. Two vessels are now operating in Asia Pacific on long term contracts, two in the North Sea spot market and one on long term contract in Brazil. We expect a good market for these vessels in all three regions.”

(225 million Norwegian kroner = 39.318525 million U.S. dollars)