Dockwise Ltd. has announced nine near and mid-term contracts awarded to its subsidiary, Dockwise Shipping, for the transportation of jack-up and semi-submersible drilling rigs, dredging equipment and various other cargoes.

Total revenues for the contracts were approximately $45 million.

On behalf of Noble Drilling, Dockwise Shipping is to transport the drilling rig Noble Roy Butler to its new assignment in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dockwise was also contracted to transport the Noble Carl Norberg to the same location and both jack-up rigs will travel in a single journey aboard the same vessel.

On behalf of various other clients, Dockwise Shipping will transport three jack-up drilling rigs to Malaysia, China, and Dubai.

Meanwhile Dockwise Shipping has been contracted to transport a dredging cargo to Saudi Arabia, the KS Titan 2 liftboat to Rotterdam as well as a workover jack-up to Gabon.

All projects will be carried out in the final quarter of 2008 and next year Dockwise Shipping will transport the semi-submersible West Setia for Seadrill from its present in-yard location in Singapore to West Africa.

In 2010 the new-build semi-submersible production platform Delba III will be transported to Brazil.

Dockwise's CEO Andre Goedee said: "This is encouraging news.

The spot market for drilling rig transportation continues to be in good health, and our income to be supplemented by revenue streams from other cargoes.

"Realising the strongest quarter ever would be a fantastic stepping stone into 2009. In addition, we are now only a few months from commencing a major programme to utilise our strong free cashflow to pay down debt."