IOS Announce Charter Contracts

P/R International Offshore Services ANS (IOS), which is a 50/50 joint venture between Farstad Shipping ASA and P&O Australia, has contracted two anchor handling support vessels at the Simek AS yard in Norway. Delivery of the vessels will take place in March and July 2003.

The vessels are a new type of UT 712 of 12,240 bhp with DP and a double drum 370 tonne winch for employment in international markets. IOS has also entered into a two year time charter with Phillips in Australia for the platform supply vessel (PSV) Far Scotsman commencing April 2002. The PSV is in turn being bareboat chartered from Farstad Shipping ASA for a minimum of two years. The Lady Audrey has been fixed for two wells + 2x1 well options to Shell Namibia from early January 2002. Lady Audrey is presently working for Shell in the Philippines.

Total contract value for IOS for the firm period of these two charter contracts is about $12 million.