Bristow wins Dutch SAR contract

Bristow Helicopters has been awarded a ground-breaking contract to provide Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter services to support the offshore industry in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

The five-year contract, with two one-year extension options, starts on 17 November 2003 and has been awarded by a group of eight Dutch oil and gas companies: BP Nederland, ENI, Gaz de France, NAM, Petro-Canada, Total, Unocal and Wintershall.

The Super Puma Mk2 helicopter to be used on the contract has now re-positioned from Aberdeen to Bristow’s established Dutch base at Den Helder from where it will operate. This particular helicopter is one of the most advanced SAR aircraft available anywhere in the world.

Bristow Helicopters is recognised as one of the world’s leading operators of SAR helicopter services with more than 30 years’ experience. The company currently operates the four HM Coastguard helicopter bases in the UK at Sumburgh and Stornoway in the north of Scotland and at Portland and Lee-on-Solent on the south coast of England.

In April this year Bristow received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation in recognition of the company’s continuous development of SAR helicopters over an extended period.

Bristow’s Director of European Operations, Willie Toner, said: “We are delighted to have won this contract, the first of its kind in the North Sea, and to be able to apply our considerable experience and expertise to enhancing safety for offshore operations in Holland.”

For the first three months of the contract, Bristow will provide 12 hour SAR cover and then 24 hour cover seven days a week, with a maximum response time of 15 minutes by day and 60 minutes by night.

The day-to-day operations will be co-ordinated by the Dutch Coastguard.

ENDS

14 November 2003

Notes to Editors:

1. No value will be put on the work but Bristow Helicopters can confirm it is a ‘multi-million Euro contract’.
2. This contract award does not affect Bristow’s recent announcement about the restructuring of the company as it was taken into account at the time of its consideration of the inevitable downsizing of its operations at Aberdeen and Norwich.
3. A digital photograph of the Super Puma Mk2 is available by e-mail request to Gerry Cousins at the address below.
4. Enquiries to NOGEPA, Mr Jean Mathey, Secretary General on telephone 00 31 (0) 703478871

Issued on behalf of Bristow Helicopters by JACplug Communications

Inquiries:
Gerry Cousins - Telephone: +44 (0)1651 842627
Mobile: +44 (0)7803 264918
E-mail: gerrycousins@compuserve.com