Quality Operator News

Ship Finance International Limited said it has agreed to acquire three large containerships in combination with long term time charters.The vessels were built in 2015 with approximately 10,600 TEU carrying capacity. The company expects to take delivery of the vessels in the near term, and the purchase price is confidential.The charters will run for a period of minimum six years, with options for the charterer to extend the charters up to 10 years. There is also a purchase option with profit split at the end of the initial period. Ship Finance International’s fixed rate charter backlog will increase by approximately $260 million, increasing to approximately $430 million if the charter extension options are exercised.

Gibraltar’s Gibdock shipyard has completed an extensive package of work on Solstad Shipping’s Normand Cutter. The 127m long, 10,979grt construction support vessel (CSV) left the yard on June 29th following a 22-day drydock programme, which included a comprehensive overhaul of its entire propulsion system. Norway-based Solstad has become a regular Gibdock customer, entrusting the yard with work on a number of high-tech offshore vessels over the past decade. The 2001-built Normand Cutter is in fact a repeat visitor to the yard, having previously docked at Gibdock in April 2011 for its last 5-year special survey. Gibdock managing director, Richard Beards, says: “We are delighted that such a well-respected, quality operator as Solstad has decided to come back to us once again.

Teekay Corporation announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, TPO Investments AS (TPO), has acquired an additional 30.1 percent interest (22.6 million common shares) in Teekay Petrojarl ASA (Teekay Petrojarl) from Prosafe Production (Prosafe) at a price of NOK 59 per share. Teekay Petrojarl is a leading operator of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (the North Sea and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PETRO). The total purchase price of approximately $257 million will be settled in cash. As a result of this transaction, Teekay’s total ownership of Teekay Petrojarl has increased to approximately 94.8 percent from 64.7 percent.

Teekay Shipping Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Naviera F. Tapias S.A. Teekay has also entered into an agreement with the shareholders of Tapias to establish a 50/50 joint venture that will pursue new business in the oil and gas shipping sectors, focusing specifically on the Spanish market. The Tapias acquisition will establish Teekay's presence in LNG shipping, one of the fastest growing sectors of sea-borne energy transportation. It will position the Company as a key supplier of LNG shipping to Spain, the world's third largest importer of LNG, and provide a strategic growth platform for Teekay. As a major provider of crude oil transportation to Spain, the acquisition of Tapias will also extend Teekay's leading position in the crude oil tanker sector.

Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units. and Chief Executive Officer. that will result from this increased offshore oil production. Mr. customers and should increase our investment in this area. Production Espen Klitzing. The joint venture will only encompass new projects. venture. venture are to be finalized during the second quarter of 2006.