DOF has been awarded three contracts from Petrobras valued at USD 390 million for underwater inspections across the Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo basins. Over 4,000 inspections are planned, with operations beginning in 2026 over a three-year term.
Author: Rafael Bortoloti
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Baker Hughes secures contract with Petrobras
Baker Hughes has secured a contract with Petrobras to supply up to 50 subsea tree systems and related services, to be deployed across fields including Albacora, Jubarte and pre-salt projects, like Mero and Búzios. Procurement and manufacturing are expected to begin in Q3 2025.
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Amazon shipbuilding initiative
The Ministry of Ports and Airports has announced BRL 1.7 billion from the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) to build 188 vessels in Amazonas. The works will be carried out by LHG Mining and Hermasa. In addition, upgrades were inaugurated at the ports of Envira and Eirunepé. The initiative aims to boost the shipbuilding industry, reduce logistics costs and stimulate the riverside economy.
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Offshore Insights
– On September 24, 2025, Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) granted preliminary approval for Petrobras’ request to apply accelerated depreciation quotas to 16 of the 25 tankers and gas carriers included in Transpetro/Petrobras TP25 fleet renewal program. The approval covers four Handy-class vessels, eight gas carriers and four MR-1 vessels currently at various stages of the TP25 program. All vessels must be built in Brazil and used exclusively for cabotage operations. A provisional measure was also advanced, increasing the fiscal limit for accelerated depreciation from BRL 1.6 billion to BRL 2.4 billion.
– DOF has announced three short-term vessel charters in Brazil’s Espírito Santo and Santos Basins. The Geoholm was delivered in mid-September and is currently performing mooring operations with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Later this month, the Skandi Salvador will begin a 10-day subsea retrieval campaign and is scheduled to return in November for a 60-day subsea and well intervention program, utilizing a work-class ROV and subsea crane.
– Camorim has commissioned the C Harpia, the fifth and final vessel in a series of azimuthal tugs built at the Detroit Brasil shipyard in Itajaí (SC). Delivered last week, the tug boasts an 80-ton static bollard pull. The total investment in the series was approximately BRL 220 million. In addition to its core port towing operations, Camorim is expanding its offshore support services, allocating around BRL 110 million to long-term offshore contracts and diversified port logistics. The company also maintains long-term agreements with Petrobras and OOS International for liftboat operations in decommissioning campaigns across the Sergipe-Alagoas and Rio Grande do Norte–Ceará basins. According to a recent study by WSB-One.com, Camorim’s fleet now totals 21,671 available tonnage, positioning it among the largest active shipowners in Brazil. -
Petrobras, Exxon Mobil, and TechnipFMC Raise Concerns to CADE
The proposed merger between Italy’s Saipem and Norway’s Subsea 7, aimed at creating a new entity in the subsea services sector, is currently under review by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). Major oil and gas industry players, including Petrobras, Exxon Mobil, and TechnipFMC, have formally submitted documents expressing their concerns regarding the operation.
According to the Petition from Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, filed with CADE on September 18, 2025, under process AC No. 08700.008758/2025-77, the Brazilian state-owned company articulates competitive concerns regarding the merger. Petrobras asserts its legitimacy to intervene as an interested third party in the markets for SURF (Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines) services in the form of subsea EPCI contracts and the chartering of PLSV (Pipe Laying Support Vessel) vessels. The document indicates that 10 out of the 21 PLV (Pipe Laying Vessels) mapped for Petrobras’s Subsea EPCI services belong to SAIPEM or SUBSEA7, accounting for 47% of the total. Furthermore, out of the 8 active subsea EPCI contracts where Petrobras is the operator, 6 (Mero 3, Mero 4, Búzios 7, Búzios 8, Búzios 9, and Búzios 11) are executed by SAIPEM or SUBSEA7, representing 75% of the portfolio. In the PLSV vessel chartering market, SAIPEM and SUBSEA7 collectively own 11 out of 34 vessels capable of operating in their E&P projects, which constitutes 32%. The submission’s quantitative data, consistent with insights from WSB Advisors and WSB-One.com, points to anticipated price increases in the SURF segments.
The Petition from Technip Brasil – Engenharia, Instalações e Apoio Marítimo Ltda. (TechnipFMC), filed with CADE on September 18, 2025, within the same process, also sought qualification as an interested third party. Technip Brasil, a competitor to the Applicants, argues that the operation could lead to a reduction in competition, particularly in the SURF and IRMD (Inspection, Repair, Maintenance, and Decommissioning) markets in offshore fields. The document proposes a relevant market definition that differentiates the availability and specialization of vessels for installing rigid and flexible pipes in SURF EPCI projects for Petrobras and for private companies (IOCs and Independent Operators). TechnipFMC highlights that the Combined Entity would control 11 of the 20 vessels available for EPCI projects, representing over 50% of the capacity, and expresses concern regarding the long-term PLSV vessel chartering market for Petrobras.
The Petition from ExxonMobil Exploração Brasil Ltda., filed with CADE on September 18, 2025, also under AC No. 08700.008758/2025-77, outlines concerns about a reduction in competition within the deep-water rigid pipe installation market. ExxonMobil argues that the market definition presented by the Applicants in the concentration act notification is too broad and does not accurately reflect the realities of deep-water operations. The document details that the Combined Entity would control a significant share of the global fleet of deep-water pipe installation vessels, with specific participation for methods such as J-lay, Reel-lay, and S-lay. The petition emphasizes that vessels with differing capabilities are not substitutable, and the high utilization rates of deep-water installation vessels (nearing 100% in 2025, excluding maintenance time) indicate a structurally constrained capacity and high entry barriers.
This is not the first instance of Subsea 7 being subject to CADE’s scrutiny in a concentration act. In 2012, the agency approved Concentration Act No. 08700.005165/2012-32, concerning Subsea 7 Inc.’s acquisition of control over the Acergy Group. This precedent underscores CADE’s ongoing role in reviewing consolidation activities within the subsea services sector.
In a related but distinct market development, the market observed movements concerning the sale of assets involving DOF and Maersk Supply Service. Globally, on November 1, 2024, DOF Group completed the acquisition of Maersk Supply Service A/S. However, Maersk Offshore Wind and Maersk Supply Service’s operations in Brazil were specifically excluded from this global transaction. Consequently, no CADE review was required.
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Ibama approves assesment for Equatorial Margin
Petrobras announced on Wednesday night (September 24) that Brazil’s environmental regulator Ibama approved its Pre-Operational Assessment (APO) for exploration in the Equatorial Margin, located in the country’s Northeast. The APO served as a simulation designed to rigorously test Petrobras’ operational capacity while ensuring environmental safeguards.
The approval clears the path for Ibama to soon grant a full exploration license, signaling a potential resolution to years of disputes between the state-controlled company and environmental advocacy groups. However, Ibama conditioned its decision on Petrobras incorporating further adjustments to its wildlife protection plan, expected to be implemented this week, in order to strengthen its response framework and align fully with regional ecological requirements.
In an official statement, Ibama emphasized the robustness of Petrobras’ operational structure and acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the activity, which involved significant logistical challenges, large-scale mobilization of resources and broad analytical scope. The APO was conducted in late August using the drillship NS-42, operated by Foresea, on a well within Block FZA-M-59 off the coast of Amapá.
The Equatorial Margin has been identified as Brazil’s main exploratory frontier, with the potential to generate thousands of jobs, strengthen national energy supply and reduce import dependence. Additional insights on the region, its characteristics and its implications for Brazil’s energy landscape are detailed in the 12th edition of One. Energy, Westhon’s specialized magazine, featuring analysis from Anídio Corrêa, R&D Environment Projects Lead at WSB Advisors.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
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Brazilian industry sees strategic movements amidst market shifts
Following the discussion on Starnav’s significant fleet expansion and ongoing naval construction, the broader Brazilian naval industry continues to demonstrate strategic activity. Starnav’s proactive construction of two PSVs, initiated based on market speculation, showcased an anticipation of fleet aging trends and emerging demand within the Brazilian Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) segment. Concurrently, the state of Santa Catarina has been a focal point for additional industry movements.
The BNDES has initiated a public selection process for a partner to conduct a technical study on the naval industry, backed by a budget of up to R$8 million. The study’s objective is to formulate policy proposals for the sector, with a focus on aligning with decarbonization goals and the energy transition. This analysis will incorporate national and international experiences, addressing productive, geopolitical, environmental considerations and establish an updated industry database.
Transpetro has confirmed its support for this initiative. Furthermore, Transpetro recently concluded the proposal submission phase for the construction of eight new gas carriers under its TP-25 program. The tender’s structure included provisions for local content bonuses for Brazilian shipyards and penalties for foreign proposals, directly influencing the equalized results currently under evaluation.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
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Starnav expands fleet
The BNDES (Brazilian National Development Bank) has announced a R$2.5 billion financing package for Starnav. This capital injection is designated for the construction of eight new offshore vessels, specifically four PSVs and four OSRVs, at Starnav’s Detroit Brasil shipyard in Itajaí, Santa Catarina.
Funds are sourced from the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM). These vessels are secured by 12-year charter contracts with Petrobras, providing direct operational mandates. Deliveries are scheduled over 1,820 days, extending until 2030, and the BNDES financing covers approximately 70% of Starnav’s projected total investment of R$2.9 billion.
WSB Advisors highlights that these four new PSVs will join two other PSVs already in varying stages of construction, one nearing completion and another in initial stages, which were part of an open bid by Petrobras last year.
With these additions, WSB-One.com reports that Starnav’s fleet will expand significantly. The total of 10 new vessels – comprising four OSRVs, two PSVs currently under construction and four PSVs yet to be built – will increase the fleet by nearly 50%, raising the total from 18 to 28 units. Currently, the shipowner operates 130,981 DWT. In regulatory terms, the company shows 19,422 tons of availability under ANTAQ rules. The available pool today covers 17 national PSVs and one REB-flagged unit. -
Transpetro Gas Carrier – Prelimiary Results
On September 22, 2025, Transpetro closed the bid opening for eight new gas carriers under the TP-25 program. The tender rules included a local content bonus for Brazilian shipyards and a penalty for foreign proposals, which shaped the equalized results now under review.
In Lot A (three vessels of 10,000 GT), KIT L.L.C emerged in first place with a proposal of USD 125 million for the trio, equalized at USD 169.6 million. The company’s unit price is nearly 30% below those of traditional Asian yards Zhouzang and Dalian, which followed in second and third place. The only other Brazilian contender, VARD, submitted a bid but was outpriced by a wide margin.
In Lot B (five vessels incl 14,000 GT), the local builder Ecovix– already awarded four Handy-size tankers earlier this year – took the lead with a USD 415 million proposal, equalized at USD 267.9 million. The outcome was extremely close, with Ecovix edging out three international competitors by a narrow margin in what appears to be a tight draw.
The evaluation process will now define the allocation of contracts.More info to be shortly given by WSB – stay tuned.
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A Brazilian giant spotted in Angra dos Reis
September 21 – From onboard WSB’s The Becrux, I had the privilege of capturing the AHTS Bram Offshore Bram Atlas as she departed Angra, heading toward Macaé on a brilliant day to close the Winter season.
Crossing paths with a Chouest vessel is always a special moment — my salute to the Bram Atlas crew and to our friends at Edison Chouest Offshore.
Built at Estaleiro Navship in Itajai, the Bram Atlas is a prime showcase of Brazilian shipbuilding: powerful, reliable, and built with excellence. Encounters like this remind us of the importance of keeping our industry strong and competitive.Discover more about this vessel at wsb-one.com
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New operation at Roncador field
The drillship Tidal Action has started operations this week in the Roncador field, Campos Basin, under charter with Petrobras. The project was developed in partnership with Hanwha Drilling, which supported the mobilization and acceptance process of the unit.
As part of the operation’s logistics, WSB Advisors participated in the charter of the PSV Singrar, operated by Bravante, which engaged in fuel supply duties with the Tidal Action during its mobilization.
Tidal Action is a 7th generation drillship, capable of operating in water depths of up to 3,600 meters and equipped for ultra-deepwater drilling challenges.
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Petrobras Launches First CCS Pilot
Petrobras has approved the construction of the São Tomé CCS Pilot Project in Macaé (RJ), Brazil’s first integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative. The project will test technologies to capture, transport and inject up to 100,000 tons of CO₂ annually into a deep saline reservoir over three years starting in 2028, under close monitoring by ANP and INEA.
By combining offshore expertise with decarbonization strategies, Petrobras aims to validate methodologies that could pave the way for large-scale CCS hubs in the country. The project will also allow regulators to refine and establish procedures for future commercial applications.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.