Norwegian private equity firm, Hitecvision announced today that Houston-based Atlantica Tender Drilling Ltd, one of their many investments in the offshore industry, has been awarded a five well, ~400 day contract for the heavy tender barge Gamma to work for Foxtrot International on the Marlin Field Development Project off the Ivory Coast.

The Gamma was designed by Bassøe Technology AB and is being built by Dalian Shipbuilding for a total contract price of USD $124 million. Atlantica’s newbuild contract with Dalian includes options to build an additional 4 tender barges.

Contract commencement is set for Q1, 2015 following the delivery of the Gamma  in late 2014. With this contract Gamma will be the third Atlantica rig contracted to the West Africa tender market.

Atlantica Tender Drilling Ltd manages and part owns one tender drilling barge which is in operation off the coast of West Africa, while two tender drilling semisubmersibles and one tender drilling barge are under construction for delivery 2013 – 2015. The semis are being built against long term contracts with Petrobras and Total, respectively.