LIVERPOOL-based Bibby Line Group has announced a £100m five year deal with oil giant BP.

Its Bibby Ship Management division will manage four regional support vessels (RSV) and two platform supply vessels (PSV), currently under construction, in the North Sea for BP Exploration Operating Company.

The contract will be managed from Aberdeen and will involve more than 200 crew and support staff.

Mark Hardie, BP’s UK logistics infrastructure manager, said: “This award is a key component of BP’s long term marine strategy and we look forward to working with Bibby Ship Management to ensure high levels of service to our offshore operations.”

Bibby Ship Management can trace its roots back to more than 200 years.

Sir Michael Bibby, managing director of Bibby Line Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to work with BP in providing full technical management and logistics services for these vessels in the UK North Sea.

“The award of this contract reflects the benefit of our investment in Bibby Ship Management’s systems and people to create a high quality ship management business with great safety awareness, which can deliver real value to our clients.”

Bibby Ship Management has a managed vessel portfolio that combines a Bibby-owned fleet with strong third party clients like BP.

In addition, it is able to supply crew and crew management services and the company currently supplies crew to more than 200 vessels and is able to offer a wide range of additional services including training, accountancy and salary services.

Ed Rimmer, chief executive of Bibby Ship Management, welcomed the move, saying: “Bibby Ship Management is committed to offering the highest levels of service to its clients. Working with a company the size and profile of BP underlines Bibby’s reputation in the market place.”