A British firm is buying its way into Australian mining logistics, spending millions on a stake in a resource transport specialist.

ASCO Australasia, the operator of the Darwin Marine Supply Base, has paid $28 million for 60 per cent of Australian oilfield road transport specialist Bonnie Rock Transport (BRT).

Bonnie Rock Transport specialises in moving large drill rigs and other mining equipment, with hauls covering all aspects of rigging and logistic. BRT also provides warehousing and distribution, container transport and freight distribution services as well.

The UK-based firm ASCO says the deal is a linchpin in its plan to take a major slice of transport and logistics sector to supporting Australian oil and gas.

ASCO has the option to move to 100 per cent equity.

BRT is something of a ready-cooked meal for the hungry investor, with depots in Perth, Dampier, Dongara and Broome in Western Australia, and one in Chinchilla in Queensland.

“Bonnie Rock Transport is a perfect fit with ASCO Group’s international activities and our expansion plans in Australia,” ASCO Australasia CEO Matt Thomas said.

“ASCO is building a significant footprint in Australia – with our management of the Darwin Marine Supply Base, our acquisition of Brisbane-based global inventory and asset management business Oniqua in 2012, and now the Bonnie Rock purchase.

“ASCO Australasia can now support its customers through the entire supply chain cycle, ensuring, equipment and materials get to where they are needed, when they are needed.”

Bonnie Rock Transport Managing Director Jim Currie said it would be good to link up with a major international partner.

“We are excited about the opportunities that will come with joining a group the size and expertise of ASCO,” Currie says.

“We look forward to working closely with ASCO to grow our business across Australia.”

ASCO has picked the perfect time to buy, as a number of major offshore oil and gas rigs move from exploration to production.

“With forecast growth in unconventional oil and gas exploration and development in remote areas of Australia, significant expansion is also predicted in onshore drilling rig and camp mobilisation,” ASCO’s statement said.