P&O Maritime Services Wins New Contract to Operate
UK Government Marine Research Vessel

10 April 2008

On 24 March 2009 P&O Maritime Services signed a new contract with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) for the provision of future vessel and gear management services for its research vessel, RV Cefas Endeavour. CEFAS is the United Kingdom’s (UK) government marine science agency. This contract runs for six years with an option for extension and is a success for the export of P&O Maritime Services’ Australian marine science and research services support model.

The contract win for P&O Maritime Services comes after a full international tender process and an evaluation process that included several of Europe’s leading operators in this field.

P&O Maritime Services’ Managing Director, Andrew King, said “We set out last year to expand our business in Europe and this is an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with England’s leading marine research organisation. We are looking forward to further developing the skilled team that will join us and to providing support capability to CEFAS.”

CEFAS Chief Executive, Dr Richard Judge said: “We are pleased to have reached agreement with P&O Maritime Services. The contract means that we will continue to enjoy high quality vessel and services management, important contingency support and flexibility that enables us to optimise the vessel’s use.”

P&O Maritime Services is an experienced provider of maritime solutions that are developed to satisfy each customer’s specific capability requirements and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

In Europe P&O Maritime Services currently operates two research vessels for the Marine Institute in Ireland and owns and operates the resupply vessel, l’Astrolabe, for Institut Paul Emile Victor (IPEV), the French Government Antarctic operation.

P&O Maritime Services’ Government Shipping Services business unit has a high level of expertise in the specialised field of operating in the Antarctic, marine science and research, and border protection vessels, for Australian and international government agencies. Vessels managed and operated through this business unit include Australia’s Antarctic flagship, Aurora Australis, four marine science and research vessels in Australia and Europe and a vessel that plays an integral role in the Australian Federal Government’s border and fisheries patrols year round in Australian waters.

About P&O Maritime Services

P&O Maritime Services is owned by DP World and has its head office in Melbourne and operations offices in Hobart, Sydney, Brisbane, Bing Bong and Karumba, Australia.

P&O Maritime Services’ operations focus on the development and delivery of specialist maritime service solutions in support of a large variety of operations. The provision of these service solutions is facilitated through P&O Maritime Services’ ownership, modification/construction, operation and management of a fleet of specialised vessels for its customers’ long term requirements. P&O Maritime Services is supported by a high level of maritime capability and is able to capitalise on its knowledge, resources and infrastructure developed over years of international operations.

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