FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Seabulk International, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBLK) today announced the purchase and
delivery of the Seabulk Africa, a newbuild UT-755L platform supply vessel
(PSV) built at the Simek Shipyard in Norway. The 5,500-horsepower, 236-foot
vessel will join the Company's West African fleet, which presently comprises
42 vessels ranging from crewboats to sophisticated anchor handlers. PSVs are
large, multipurpose vessels used to ferry equipment, supplies and personnel to
offshore platforms and rigs engaged in the production of crude oil and natural
gas.
"This is a state-of-the-art vessel and the Cadillac of the industry,"
commented Hubert E. Thyssen, corporate vice president and senior vice
president of marketing for Seabulk Offshore, the Company's offshore vessels
subsidiary. "She is equipped with the latest technology, including dynamic
positioning and firefighting equipment, and is ideally suited to the deepwater
West African market. The Seabulk Africa will be the flagship of our West
African fleet."
The Company also announced that it would bareboat charter, beginning in
February 2003 and March 2003, respectively, two additional newbuild vessels
from the Labroy Group in Indonesia for deployment in the Southeast Asia market.
These two vessels -- the Seabulk Padamyar, a 3,800-horsepower anchor-handling
tug/supply vessel, and the Seabulk Nylar, a 3,800-horsepower PSV -- have
secured three-year contracts with two option years with a major international
oil company.
"These two transactions, the purchase of the Seabulk Africa and the
bareboat charter of the Seabulk Padamyar and Seabulk Nylar, exemplify our
strategy of selectively augmenting our international offshore fleet with
sophisticated new tonnage," commented Gerhard E. Kurz, chairman, president and
chief executive officer of parent company Seabulk International. "In today's
competitive environment, it is essential that we continue to provide our
customers with the finest equipment available."
Seabulk Offshore operates a fleet of 134 vessels in the Gulf of Mexico,
Caribbean, South America, West Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Parent company Seabulk International, Inc. is a leading global provider
of marine support and transportation services -- primarily to the energy and
chemical industries. With a fleet of 175 vessels, we provide benchmark
quality service to our customers based on innovative technology, the highest
safety standards, modern efficient equipment and dedicated, professional
employees. Visit us on the Web at http://www.seabulkinternational.com.
SOURCE Seabulk International
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Related links:
http://www.seabulkinternational.com
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Company News On-Call:
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CONTACT:
Jack O'Connell, Corporate Communications and
Investor Relations, +1-954-524-4200, ext. 224 or Kristen
Andersen, Corporate Communications, +1-954-524-4200, ext. 227,
both of Seabulk International
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