OSG Signs Long Term FSO Contract with Maersk Oil Qatar

FSO Asia, image courtesy Drydocks World

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE: OSG) announced today that a new service agreement has been signed with Maersk Oil Qatar AS (MOQ) for the FSO Africa, a floating storage and offloading service vessel (FSO*) jointly owned by OSG and Euronav N.V. (Euronext Brussels: EURN).  The new agreement, which supersedes the previous FSO Africa contract, has a firm term of five years commencing October 1, 2012 and provides MOQ with an extension option for an additional term of either one or two years.

In addition to the extension of the minimum contract term by over four years, the new agreement provides for an increase in the daily hire rate earned in each firm contract year to the same daily hire rate schedule as for the existing MOQ service contract for FSO Asia, its sister vessel.  The new agreement extends to MOQ use of the full capacity and functionality of FSO Africa.

FSO Africa and FSO Asia are the two largest and most sophisticated double hull FSO vessels in the world. The vessels continue to operate at a high level of performance in terms of quality of oil produced and without incurrence of off-hire since their respective in-service dates (January 2010 for FSO Asia; August 2010 for FSO Africa).

Morten Arntzen, President and CEO commented: “We are pleased to have finalized the new five-year contract for the FSO Africa with MOQ.  This extension is testament to the high quality service delivered every day of the year by our crews and technical staff operating these incredibly high-spec FSOs in the waters offshore Qatar.  With both of our FSOs operating on long term contracts in Qatar, our initial vision for this important joint venture has been realized. Together with our partner Euronav, we look forward to building upon the close relationship we’ve forged with MOQ as they continue to operate on the Al Shaheen field.”

*An FSO is a converted or new build barge or tanker, moored at a location to receive crude or other products for storage and transfer purposes. FSOs are not equipped with processing facilities.  In OSG’s case, both FSO Asia and FSO Africa are converted ULCCs.

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