Perth, Mar 1, 2006 (ABN Newswire) - One of Australia's foremost national energy advisors and a specialist on the North West Shelf, has been appointed as a Director to the Board of the country's only listed underwater welding and subsea services group, Neptune Marine Services Limited (ASX: NMS).

The appointment of Mr David Agostini to the Neptune Board comes as the Company is due to complete by next month (April), its strategic business plan encompassing a review of how best to commercialise its successful technology internationally, with a key target market being the oil and gas sector.

Highly experienced in working with Government, universities and research groups, Mr Agostini is currently:

- Adjunct Professor at the School of Oil & Gas Engineering, University of WA

- Chairs the School's industry advisory board

- Is Chair of the Industry Reference Group supporting the WA State Government in reforming Western Power in WA, and

- Holds a similar position with the advisory board of the Australian Resources Research Centre.

Mr Agostini is a member of the governing board of the WA Energy Research Alliance and was a member of the four-man panel chaired by Senator Warwick Parer which carried out the Australian Energy Markets Review for COAG over 12 months in 2002.

His professional career includes positions as General Manager of Woodside's North West Shelf interests, including the decision-making forum for marketing LNG into Asia; and is a former Woodside General Manager of Operations, covering the 3 Train LNG plant, domestic gas plant, North Rankin and Goodwin offshore platforms, the Cossack Pioneer floating production system and offshore drilling rigs.

Mr Agostini is also a former General Manager Gas for Woodside; and Deputy Strategy Manager for Shell in the Hague, covering downstream refining and LNG operations in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East.

"This is an exceptional appointment and comes at an important time for Neptune as we chart the Company's future and establish the growth initiatives that will expand the market for our unique subsea welding technology," Neptune's Managing Director, Mr Christian Lange, said today.

"The strategic business plan will provide the blueprint for reinventing Neptune into a major services and solutions provider, for the international petroleum, infrastructure, maritime and defence industries," Mr Lange said.

"Mr Agostini's considerable knowledge and contacts within the broader oil, gas and energy sectors will prove vital in helping Neptune achieve the growth objectives we expect to be outlined in the strategic business plan - to be finalised by the management team next month," Mr Lange said.

"Our technology and derivative opportunities provide a borderless domestic and international opportunity, and we have now strengthened our Board with the resources and management capabilities necessary to achieve the Company's potential."

The Perth-based company has already secured its first overseas contract, first oil and gas sector contract and won repeat business with the Royal Australian Navy.

>>> NEPTUNE MARINE SERVICES LIMITED