Maersk Oil Qatar: Arbitration Against UK Supplier

Maersk Oil Qatar has initiated arbitration against UK based supplier SLP Engineering Ltd., Lowestoft. SLP Engineering was in 2006 awarded a turnkey contract for delivery of offshore accommodation platforms for the Al Shaheen field development in Qatar.

After a long series of commercial, financial and scheduling problems with SLP the contract was terminated for default by Maersk Oil Qatar in September 2008. At the time a very significant number of man-hours of contractual work remained incomplete, despite concessions on the work schedule, payment terms and, most recently, the provision of financial support to SLP Engineering by Maersk Oil Qatar.

Managing Director Jakob Thomasen, Maersk Oil Qatar: "SLP Engineering has not honoured its contractual obligations despite our efforts to assist where possible and Maersk Oil Qatar is today a significant creditor of SLP Engineering. We have had no option but to initiate arbitration to seek recovery."