December 1 - Dockwise Ltd has reached agreement with Offshore Oil Engineering Co Ltd (COOEC) to act as manager of the latter's new build, so-called 'type 1 marine transportation vessel' for all third party projects.

The new vessel, a semi-submersible, currently under construction at China Merchants Yard in Shenzhen, China, is due for delivery by the end of March 2012. At 222 metres in length and deadweight of 53,500 tonnes, the vessel will be capable of carrying loads of up to 50,000 tonnes.

Dockwise says it will operate the vessel under a management contract in close cooperation with COOEC as part of the total Dockwise fleet of semi submersible vessels. Dockwise will be responsible for marketing the vessel and will be training the permanent crew.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, at the Marintec convention in Shanghai, Andre Goedee, chief executive, Dockwise, said: "This is an innovative arrangement which brings distinct benefits for both COOEC and Dockwise."

Goedee commented that being engaged by COOEC to secure profitable cargoes for its vessel, Dockwise will gain access to further, premium, newbuild resource for its own clients as demand in the sector moves into rapid growth, adding that the COOEC vessel will complement the Dockwise fleet capacity during a phase of accelerated offshore project installation and development.