Floatel International has received a Letter of Intent for the 2013-built Floatel Victory as a Maintenance and Safety Unit (UMS), providing maintenance support and accommodation services offshore Brazil. The operation is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026, with a firm duration of three to four months and an option for extension.
While the company did not disclose the client’s name, Equinor appears to be the front-runner. The Norwegian operator is currently employing the Floatel Victory on the Peregrino FPSO, under a contract recently extended through the end of 2025. This operational continuity suggests that the LOI may well be tied to a follow-up phase of that campaign or a new scope within the same asset.
At the same time, PRIO emerges as another plausible option.
Who do you think is behind this charter: Equinor, Prio or another major player?
Category: Last News
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Letter of Intent for Floatel Victory
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Open Tenders & More
Dear All,
WSB is pleased to provide an update on the current long-term tenders that are open to offer.
Open tenders:
What has changed?
- Petrobras SEP Up to 1x PSV MUF: Opportunity 7004436596 new deadline July 15th, 2025;
- Petrobras SEP Up to 1x PSV GC: Opportunity 7004436597 new deadline July 25th, 2025;
- Petrobras Up to 17x PSVs : Opportunity 7004439824 new deadline July 25th, 2025;
- Petrobras SEP Up to 6x PSV : Opportunity 7004431928 new deadline July 25th, 2025;
- Petrobras Up to 6x SOVs : Opportunity 7004478234 released July 1st, 2025.
What else is happening?
- Bram Atlas started a 4-year contract with Petrobras, early this month!
- Valaris secures a US$ 498 million deal with Equinor for the Raia Project. Operations with drillship Valaris DS-17 expected to start Q1, 2026.
- Constellation brought Tidal Action to Brazil for its debut in Petrobras’ Roncador field. A seventh-gen giant ready for 3,600m water depths and 12,000m wells.
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Strategic Developments in Maritime Financing and Shipbuilding
Brazil’s Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) has approved R$7 billion in financing priorities across 98 projects, primarily targeting vessel construction and modernization. Notably, over R$3 billion will support PSVs and RSVs, while R$1.1 billion is earmarked for the concession of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá, marking the first infrastructure concession of its kind in the Brazilian port sector.
Meanwhile, in a historic global move, the Shanghai Stock Exchange has given the green light for the merger of China’s two major state-owned shipbuilders, CSSC and CSIC. Valued at US$16 billion, the deal creates the world’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate with combined assets of approximately US$56 billion. The new CSSC will play a dominant role in shaping the future of the global maritime industry.
*Source: “Portos e Navios” -
Offhsore moves: Chartering & strategy
Chartering & Strategy
Subsea7, through the Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA), has secured a contract with Equinor to conduct concept studies for Phase 2 of the Bacalhau field in Brazil’s pre-salt Santos Basin.
The strategic alliance between Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea brings together teams from the UK, Norway and Brazil.
Phase 1, expected to start production later this year, is already considered a technological benchmark. The Bacalhau FPSO, featuring MODEC’s next-generation M350 hull, will have a processing capacity of 220,000 barrels per day and connect 19 subsea wells in ultra-deep waters.
With estimated recoverable reserves exceeding 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, Bacalhau is operated by Equinor in partnership with ExxonMobil, Petrogal Brasil S.A. and PPSA (Pré-Sal Petróleo S/A).
Meanwhile, Solstad Offshore has officially signed a long-term contract with Petrobras for the AHTS vessel Normand Turquesa.
The contract is scheduled to begin in February 2026 and will run for four years, with an estimated gross value of approximately USD 84 million. This agreement follows a series of recent awards between Solstad and Petrobras, reinforcing the vessel’s owners strong positioning in Brazil’s deepwater support segment.
To know more, visit: cms.oneenergynews.com or contact us: Comercial@cms.oneenergynews.com -
Market News: FPSO, investments and Subsea projects
This week, Brazil’s energy sector has taken another decisive step toward growth and diversification with key announcements involving upstream, downstream and subsea segments.
McDermott has signed a “sizeable” contract with BRAVA covering the transportation and installation of flexible pipelines, umbilical and subsea equipment for new wells in the Papa-Terra and Atlanta fields. The agreement also includes pre-commissioning and onshore support services. The contract value ranges between $1 million and $50 million.
Meanwhile, Siemens and Seatrium have been selected to supply the compression systems for Petrobras’ FPSOs P-84 and P-85. The two units, central to Petrobras’ pre-salt expansion strategy, are expected to enter production by 2030. The total value of the supply contract is approximately R$ 2 billion.
Last Friday (4), Petrobras announced a R$ 33 billion investment plan focused on refining and petrochemicals at the Duque de Caxias Refinery (Reduc), in partnership with Braskem. The initiative revives major projects in the downstream segment and includes pilot production of Diesel R and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), improved integration with the Boaventura Energy Complex and expanded investment in workforce development.
Adding to this, Petrobras is now seeking to attract Chinese investment to support its naval and logistics infrastructure. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in Rio de Janeiro brings together major Chinese firms such as COSCO SHIPPING, Offshore Oil Engineering Co. and China State Shipbuilding, along with Brazilian shipyards including
Estaleiro Mauá S/A, Enseada, Estaleiro Atlântico Sul and Estaleiro EBR (Estaleiros do Brasil Ltda), Petrobras and Transpetro will act as anchor clients with plans to commission 52 vessels and five FPSOs by 2026. The partnership aims to inject capital and technology into Brazil’s shipbuilding industry, aligning with government efforts to reindustrialize the sector after a long period of decline. -
WSB tips – Open tenders & more
WSB Advisors is pleased to provide an update on the long-term offshore tenders currently open for submission. Several key Petrobras opportunities have updated deadlines, reflecting ongoing adjustments in Brazil’s offshore contracting environment.
Below, the latest updates:
• Petrobras SEP – Up to 1x PSV MUF
Opportunity 7004436596 – New deadline: July 8th, 2025
• Petrobras SEP – Up to 1x PSV GC
Opportunity 7004436597 – New deadline: July 11th, 2025
• Petrobras – Up to 17x PSVs
Opportunity 7004439824 – New deadline: July 11th, 2025
• Petrobras – Up to 3x SOVs
Opportunity 7004460732 – New deadline: July 18th, 2025
• Petrobras – SDSVs
Opportunity 7004370497 – New deadline: July 31st, 2025
• Petrobras FPSO SEAP-I & SEAP-II (BOT) Opportunity 7004338481 – New deadline: September 30th, 2025
What else is happening?
• Petrobras RSV auction has reached its final classification stage. -
Petrobras and Transpetro: strategic meetings
Strategic Meetings Drive Naval Industry Partnerships
Petrobras and its subsidiary Transpetro are leading a series of strategic meetings this week between Brazilian and Chinese shipyards. The agenda, which has already passed through Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco, now moves on to Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul, aiming to foster stronger industrial partnerships in Brazil’s shipbuilding sector.
Other move
This Friday (July 4), President Lula will take part in a ceremony marking the resumption of investments in refining and petrochemicals in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The event, held at the Reduc refinery in Duque de Caxias, will feature Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard and other government officials. The announcement is expected to confirm more than R$ 33 billion in investments. Updates on renewable fuels, energy integration, and workforce development initiatives will also be shared. -
Petrobras Opens Tender for Up to 6 SOVs
Petrobras has launched a new tender for the chartering of up to six Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), with firm contracts of 730 days and extension options. The opportunity is split into two lots:
Lot A includes up to three SOVs, with expected delivery by June 2026.
Lot B covers up to six SOVs, with expected delivery by September 2026. However, three of these vessels will only be chartered if Lot A is not partially or fully awarded.
To qualify, vessels must offer accommodation for at least 60 people, feature DP2 capability, a gangway, a 200m² deck area and specific dimensional constraints as outlined in the technical annex.
Proposal deadline: July 23, 2025.
👉 Another SOV tender for three vessels is also expected to close this Friday (July 4).
For more information, contact: comercial@cms.oneenergynews.com -
FPSOs activities
The FPSO P-78 has departed Singapore and is now enroute to Brazil where it will be deployed by Petrobras in the Búzios field, part of the pre-salt Santos Basin. The platform is expected to begin operations later this year with capacity to produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil and 7.2 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.
The unit was built by Keppel Shipyard,, while its topside modules were manufactured in Brazil, an approach that reinforces Petrobras’ strategy to expand local content in its offshore projects. The P-78 also brings together technical and industrial partnerships from Brazil, China, South Korea, Singapore and Spain. The Spanish engineering firm GHENOVA is supporting integration and commissioning activities.
The vessel is part of Petrobras’ broader pre-salt expansion. By the end of 2027 the company expects to deploy four additional FPSOs in the Santos Basin: P-79, P-80, P-82, and P-83.
“This is a special moment. The platform is already crewed, saving an entire month of pre-operational work. Another delivery completed and more oil coming soon,” said Magda Chambriard, CEO of Petrobras.
More Oil
The week also brought progress on another major offshore project. Japanese shipbuilder Sumitomo Heavy Industries held the steel-cutting ceremony for the Gato do Mato FPSO that will be operated by Shell in the Gato do Mato field. The unit, to be built by MODEC, is expected to begin production in 2029 with a capacity of up to 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. -
DOF and Petrobras
DOF has confirmed the award of two new long-term contracts by Petrobras, together valued at over USD 275 million, surpassing BRL 1 billion at current exchange rates.
The AHTS Skandi Logger has secured a four-year charter, joining the ranks of other DOF vessels recently contracted by Petrobras, including the Skandi Iguaçu, Skandi Angra, Skandi Paraty, and Urca. Operations are expected to begin in February 2026.
Meanwhile, the RSV Skandi Achiever was also awarded by Petrobras a four-year contract, with offshore activities scheduled to start in December 2025. The agreement includes the deployment of two WROVs and a subsea crane, reinforcing the vessel’s advanced subsea intervention capabilities. -
WSB tips – Open tenders & more
Dear All,
WSB is pleased to provide an update on the current long-term tenders that are open to offer.
Open tenders:
What has changed?
- Petrobras Wells Plug & Abandonment in Shallow Waters : Opportunity 7004427678 new deadline July 1st, 2025;
- Petrobras Up to 2x AHTS (NEWBUILDS) : Opportunity 7004345558 new deadline September 30th, 2025.
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Nor-Shipping celebration
Last Thursday, WSB hosted “Highlights – Nor-Shipping” at our rooftop space in downtown Rio. The evening brought together around 30 leaders from across the maritime industry, representing various segments and including the presence of public sector authorities.
With fine whisky, a range of appetizers and good music, the night was all about reconnecting, building new relationships, strengthening networks and exchanging insights gained during the five days of Nor-Shipping 2025, held earlier this month in Lillestrøm, Norway.
To make the gathering even more memorable, we celebrated the birthdays of two close friends and industry professionals: Sean Buckley (Sales Business Development Executive at SAP) and Anidio Correa (R&D Environment Projects Lead at WSB Advisors).