Mermaid Marine currently provides supply base services to Santos for Mutineer-Exeter.

In a statement Mermaid Marine said, “The contract provides options to cover the expected field life and will be undertaken by the new addition to the Mermaid Marine fleet, the Mermaid Storm which will be dedicated to this operation. The vessel is a 4000HP offshore Z-Drive tug ideally suited to this type of activity and enhances fleet capability.”

“The Mermaid Storm is scheduled for delivery into Dampier in January 2005 to provide assistance as required to the pre-production phase of the Mutineer-Exeter development. The contract represents a further step towards Mermaid’s dual goals of upgrading the fleet and the reliability of earnings from contracted activities,” added the firm.

It is understood the Mermaid Storm is expected to be supported with backup services from other Mermaid Marine vessels operating in the area.