Craig Group in £63m North Sea shipping contract with BP

The five-year deal covers services to support BP’s operations in the North Sea including platform supply and emergency rescue vessels.

An initial four Craig vessels are being contracted to service the contract which could also be extended for a further five years. A fifth vessel may also be added under the deal.

Callum Bruce, managing director of North Star, said: “The award of this contract strengthens our relationship with BP who we have worked with for over 25 years.

“We continue to invest heavily in our fleet which has cemented our position as the largest British wholly owned fleet engaged in the UK offshore industry.”

Mark Hardie, BP’s UK logistics infrastructure manager, said: “BP has enjoyed a long and successful working relationship with North Star which has provided us with the confidence to widen and extend the service they provide to our business.”

Aberdeen-based Craig Group, which is family-owned, has invested £215m in new vessels operating in the North Sea since 2003.

In January BP awarded a procurement contract worth £13m a year to Craig International Supplies (CIS), also part of the Craig Group.

Under the three-year deal, CIS will provide “non-critical services” to BP’s bases throughout the UK, such as entertainment, hotel bookings and training courses.

CIS also has facilities in Cape Town in South Africa and Houston in the US.