The contract for eight months firm with options for a further six months is worth around $45m.

Viking does not name the charterer but as the vessel has been working in recent years for Sakhalin Energy it appears to be with this company.

Viking said the final option of its existing contract had been exercised and would provide work for the 18,300-bhp Vidar Viking (built 2001) up to December of this year when the newly agreed contract would begin.

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