The Darwin facility award comes on the back of Adsteam’s recent announcement it had won preferred towage contractor status for the BP-Sonatrach Isle of Grain LNG terminal in the UK.

In a statement Adsteam MD John Moller said, “I am pleased by the announcement of our contractor status for these two LNG terminals. Term contracts with the oil industry are exactly the growth opportunities we planned to focus on when the company began its transformation program in May 2003.” Moller was referring to the company’s 2003 plan to focus its expansion on new terminal and port projects.

“The Darwin LNG facility is due to commence operations early in 2006, and we will shortly commence building two new tugs to meet the service requirements of the terminal operator. The new tugs, with AZT propulsion, 55 tonne bollard pull and fire fighting capability, will also bolster the Adsteam Marine fleet,” he added.