Solstad Wins AHTS Charter Deals from Total

French oil giant Total has awarded contracts to Norwegian shipping company Solstad Farstad for two large anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels.

The offshore service and supply ship shipping company announced that the contracts were awarded by Total’s South African entity for the provision of the Normand Drott and Normand Prosper large AHTS vessels.

The contracts are to support Total E&P South Africa's operations in Block 11B/12B and the drilling programme is expected to take up to 280 days, not including mobilization time and demobilization time, with expected commencement during the first half of 2020.

Both vessels are currently trading the North Sea Spot Market, said company Solstad Farstad.

"This new contract award marks the return of Solstad Offshore to South Africa having supported Total’s previous drilling campaign in in the region during Q4 2018 / Q1 2019," said a press release.