March 15 - Multi-million dollar contracts have been signed by Dockwise Shipping, securing work for the Dutch operator into 2012.

The company has been awarded a USD20 million contract to undertake the transportation of a semi-submersible rig, a jack-up rig and river barges this year. Dockwise has also been contracted to transport drilling rigs to Australia and Rotterdam respectively. The bulk of the rig contract work is for completion within the first half of 2010.

A USD45 million contract has been signed for 2012 to transport and install, following a float over, of a large offshore production platform in the Far East. The letter of award for the new float over brings the current total float over contracts within Dockwise's backlog to five.

André Goedée, Dockwise CEO said: "Once again, the competitive strength of a large, well-dispersed fleet has secured three contracts in a tough spot market. Our float over award brings the group of float over contracts in our backlog to five, now totalling almost USD200 million."