PITTSFIELD (AP) – Cianbro Corp. said Wednesday it has been awarded a contract to convert two 370-foot sulfur tankers into multipurpose supply vessels for the offshore oil industry.

Cianbro said its agreement with Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., will provide more than 300 jobs on the Portland waterfront and at Bath Iron Works, the primary subcontractor on the project.

Cianbro said it is scheduled to receive the first ship later this month, with work on both vessels expected to continue through next year. Terms of the deal are not being divulged.

When completed, it is believed that the two U.S.-flagged vessels will be the largest offshore supply ships in the world, according to the Pittsfield-based construction company’s announcement, which did not include the dollar value of the contract.

“We are grateful to Hornbeck for this opportunity, which provides Maine workers the ability to export their knowledge and skill to make this project a success,” said Peter Vigue, Cianbro president and chief executive officer.

“The collaborative efforts of this project team will help energize and elevate Maine’s visibility as a serious competitor in the global maritime construction market,” he added.

Work on the project will take place at Cianbro’s Ricker’s Wharf marine facility, the Portland Ocean Terminal, BIW’s fabrication facility in Brunswick and its main shipyard in Bath.

Todd Hornbeck, chairman, president and CEO of Hornbeck Offshore Services, said the HOS 370s will be unlike any vessels now working in the Gulf of Mexico. He said they are designed to have multiple Coast Guard certifications and will be able to support offshore construction, subsea well intervention, pipe hauling and floating hotel services, among other capabilities.

“This represents the culmination of a three-year effort by our in-house engineering team to design a multipurpose vessel with Swiss Army Knife’ capabilities that, we believe, will revolutionize the offshore support services industry,” Hornbeck said.