The four-year firm contract has a value of $130m and is mutually extendable for a further four-year term.

On the back of the fixtures the Monaco-based shipowner has ordered five OSRV newbuildings at Dutch shipbuilder Damen.

Damen said three of the vessels will start operating by the end of December 2015 and the remaining two by June 2016.

The shipbuilder says the vessels will be built to a new and innovative, highly fuel-efficient Damen axe-bow design.

“This