WSB Advisors is pleased to welcome Romulo Bacchiega, who joins the company as Head of Content & Sales.
Born in Niterói (RJ), Romulo joined the team in late October with the mission of strengthening WSB Advisors’ communication and marketing departments while fostering strategic partnerships with leading offshore market players.
With a solid career since 2004 in the Oil & Gas and Naval sectors, he brings extensive experience in technical procurement, negotiation and EPC contract management. Over the years, he has worked with major shipyards and international companies, leading acquisitions of equipment, materials and services for large-scale projects — including the construction of ships and offshore platforms.
Fluent in English and skilled in the use of Generative AI tools, Romulo holds a degree in Business Administration from ESPM, a postgraduate degree in Project Management from COPPEAD/UFRJ, and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Digital Journalism and Communication at FAAP. He is recognized for his strong negotiation skills, strategic vision in procurement and proven ability to optimize processes and manage relationships with global suppliers.
We are excited to have Romulo on board and look forward to his contributions and growth within the group.
“It is a great pleasure and honor to join such a highly qualified and dedicated team as the one I’ve found at WSB. I am confident that we will achieve excellent results together, delivering information with accuracy and credibility while contributing to the development of the naval, offshore and energy sectors through WSB’s valuable market intelligence,” said Bacchiega.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
Petrobras has announced plans to restart operations of the FPSO Cidade de Angra dos Reis in the Tupi field, following compliance with safety requirements established by Brazil’s regulatory agency, ANP – Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis. The unit has been offline since February but is expected to return to service.
The Cidade de Angra dos Reis has a production capacity of up to 50,000 barrels of oil per day and has been operating in the Tupi field since October 2010. It was the first large-capacity FPSO to begin production in the Santos Basin pre-salt area, marking a key step in Brazil’s offshore development.
Petrobras has extended the charter of the unit through 2030, when its decommissioning is planned. The Tupi consortium is operated by Petrobras (67.216%), alongside Shell (23.024%), Petrogal Brasil S.A. (9.209%), and PPSA (Pré-Sal Petróleo S/A) (0.551%). Tupi remains Brazil’s second-largest producing field, behind only Búzios.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
This Tuesday, October 14th, WSB Advisors will take part in an event organized by the Naval League at the Technology Center of UFRJ, strengthening the connection between academia and the offshore industry.
The meeting will be held in a roundtable format and aims to discuss the multiple career paths available to naval engineers — paths that go far beyond enclosed environments, computer screens and spreadsheets.
The purpose is to present to future professionals the broad commercial scope of the naval and offshore industries, which offer real career opportunities in strategic areas such as negotiation, project development, maritime operations and asset planning.
Under the theme “Where Technique Becomes Strategy: The Commercial Vision of Naval Engineering,” four WSB Advisors professionals will share their experiences and perspectives on the current landscape and future opportunities within the naval and offshore sectors — both fundamental to Brazil’s energy and economic development.
Representing the company: Paulo Rolim, Advisory Lead Pedro Pellegrini, Shipbroker Intern Raphael Montes, Proposals Manager Ronaldo Lima, Senior Advisor
The event will conclude with a coffee break and networking session, offering an opportunity for students, researchers and industry professionals to exchange ideas and strengthen connections within the sector.
Petrobras At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004497614 new deadline October 20th, 2025;
Petrobras At least 1x FSV: Opportunity 7004492292 new deadline October 20th, 2025;
Petrobras At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004484466 new deadline October 20th, 2025;
Petrobras At least 1x FSC 10/25/60: Opportunity 7004480345 new deadline October 21st, 2025.
What else is happening?
DOF secured three short-term contracts with a major operator in the Espírito Santo and Santos Basins.
Geoholm was delivered in mid-September and is supporting mooring operations with one ROV for approximately two weeks.
Skandi Salvador will begin a 10-day charter at the end of September for subsea equipment retrieval and will return in early November for a 60-day charter focused on subsea and well intervention operations using a work-class ROV and subsea crane.
Petrobras nearsdecision to cancel Bid
Vessel owners informed WSB that Petrobras may be close to take a final decision to cancel the current PSV tender, which had already been reduced from 17 to 6 vessels after several reviews to the tender requirements throughout this year.
The move comes as Petrobras rethinks its offshore logistics model and financial strategy, seeking to realign the company’s budget amid rapidly escalating charter costs. As part of this process, Petrobras has already started formally approaching Offshore Vessel owners to discuss discounts on existing contracts, aiming to secure future extension periods and build a more predictable cost structure for its offshore support fleet.
The absence of pre-confirmed Petrobras representatives was noted at OSJ Conference where market analysts and brokers emphasized a tightening supply, growing demand and rising PSV dayrates — all in contrast with Petrobras’ current cautionary stance and WSB’s forecast. How the company recalibrates its position in the months ahead will be different.
WSB continues to monitor Petrobras’ fleet strategy and its broader impact on Brazil’s offshore logistics landscape.
2025 will be a defining year as Brazil moves toward its next federal elections in 2026. Public enterprises, and particularly Magda Chambriard’s Petrobras, will be at the center of attention, as their performance becomes inseparable from both the economic narrative and Brazil’s global energy credibility.
At a time when offshore rates are peaking, Petrobras is moving to reduce expenses, renegotiating existing charter contracts and holding back new commitments.
This cost-containment strategy, while cautious, reflects a broader effort to realign logistics and financial priorities which will define how the company positions itself for the decade ahead.
Few institutions can influence Brazil’s trajectory as profoundly as Petrobras. Lower costs, higher revenues, anticipated production, and a robust yet timely newbuilding program — including Sérgio Bacci’s Transpetro tankers and Petrobras offshore support vessels — are not just corporate goals. They are national levers of growth and competitiveness.
Irrespective of political orientation, these are legitimate instruments of progress, now under Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration. When well executed, they strengthen industry, attract global confidence, and reaffirm Brazil’s role in the international energy transition.
Constructive debate and cooperation between the public and private sectors will be key. Because in the end, national progress is built through shared purpose and informed action.
Magda Chambriard (Source: Petrobras)
TP-25
Transpetro has announced the disqualification of IRUS Holding S.A. from Lot B of its ongoing Gas Carrier Newbuild Program (TP-25).
According to the Commission’s official communication, the decision is based on two points of non-compliance with the bidding notice and its addenda:
• Lack of detailed cost breakdowns in the DFP (item 3.2.2 vii);
• Absence of the required Consortium Formation Commitment Term (item 3.2.2 viii).
The appeal phase will open only after publication of the final results of the tender.
With this update, the bidding process for the eight new LPG carriers — a key component of Brazil’s coastal gas logistics plan — moves closer to its conclusion.
Sergio Bacci (Source: Transpetro)
TP-25 – II
Following WSB’s previous update on the disqualification of one contender from Lot B of Transpetro’s Gas Carrier Newbuild Program (TP-25), the tender has now advanced into its decisive evaluation phase.
With the removal of the previous participant, the evaluation proceeds with a configuration that yields the lowest consolidated value to Petrobras under the current assessment criteria:
Lot A – KIT L.L.C-FZ
Lot B – ECOVIX Construções Oceânicas S.A.
Combined total: USD 491.8 million
The TP-25 program continues to stand as one of Brazil’s most relevant initiatives for fleet renewal and coastal gas logistics, marking an important step in the country’s shipbuilding and energy infrastructure agenda.
Rio Grande shipyard (Source: Ecovix)
Key Topics
Modec has advanced to a new construction phase of the FPSO Gato do Matofor the Santos Basin pre-salt, carrying out hull block cutting at COSCO Qidong in China after forward block fabrication began earlier this year at Sumitomo in Japan. The unit is planned for installation at roughly 2,000 m water depth, with capacity up to 120,000 bpd and first oil targeted for 2029.
Petrobras completed a pilot import of natural gas produced in the Vaca Muerta (Neuquén Basin), moving about 100,000 cubic meters via existing pipeline routes through Bolivia into Brazil. The transport, carried out under an arrangement with Petrobras Operaciones S.A. (POSA) and Gas Bridge (Pluspetrol), is described as an experimental step that could allow interruptible imports of up to 2 million m³ under the agreement.
President Lula and Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard visited Bahia and confirmed the start of construction of six PSV-OSRVs for Petrobras at the Enseada shipyard, in a project supervised by CMM. The investment is estimated at R$ 2.58 billion, with delivery scheduled for 2029 and a 12-year operating period for each contract. The project is expected to generate 5,400 jobs and requires at least 40% minimum local content during the construction phase.
steel strike ceremony for the FPSO Gato do Mato (Source: MODEC)
Oil Discovery
Petrobras has reported hydrocarbon findings in the pre-salt of the Campos Basin. The company notified Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) about the presence of oil traces in the Água Marinha block, in well 1-BRSA-1401DA-RJS. The well was drilled in July by the drillship Deepwater Aquila at a water depth of 2,601 meters.
The Água Marinha block was awarded in 2022 during the first cycle of the Permanent Production Sharing Offer and the production sharing contract was signed in May 2023. Petrobras operates the block with a 30% stake, alongside TotalEnergies (30%), PETRONAS (20%) and QatarEnergy (20%).
In the Campos Basin, Petrobras has announced plans to double production from the current 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) to 1 million boed by 2035. The company also intends to invest US$ 23 billion by 2029 in its Campos Basin Revitalization Program.
AKOFS secures contract with Petrobras
AKOFS Offshore has secured a new four-year contract with Petrobras for the multipurpose support vessel (MPSV) AKOFS Santos. Built in 2009, the vessel will continue to provide subsea construction and well intervention services for the Brazilian company.
The new contract, valued at approximately USD 246 million, is set to begin in January 2027 following the conclusion of the current agreement Around USD 140 million will be recognized as revenue for AKOFS over the contract period.
Operations will be carried out in partnership with Bravante, which will provide marine support and IKM Subsea, responsible for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services. With this award, AKOFS’ order backlog has reached about USD 612 million at the end of Q2 2025.
The company currently operates three specialized vessels: AKOFS Santos and Aker Wayfarer, both under contract with Petrobras in Brazil, and AKOFS Seafarer, operating with Equinor in the North Sea.
Petrobras has extended deadlines for multiple offshore opportunities, keeping the Brazilian chartering market active and competitive.
What has changed?
• Petrobras At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004497614 — new deadline October 20th, 2025 • Petrobras At least 1x FSV: Opportunity 7004492292 — new deadline October 20th, 2025 • Petrobras At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004484466 — new deadline October 20th, 2025 • Petrobras At least 1x FSC 10/25/60: Opportunity 7004480345 — new deadline October 21st, 2025
What else is happening?
• DOF secured three short-term contracts with a major operator in the Espírito Santo and Santos Basins. • Geoholm Dof was delivered in mid-September and is supporting mooring operations with one ROV for approximately two weeks. • Skandi Salvador will begin a 10-day charter at the end of September for subsea equipment retrieval and will return in early November for a 60-day charter focused on subsea and well intervention operations using a work-class ROV and subsea crane.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
Vessel owners informed WSB Advisors that Petrobras may be close to take a final decision to cancel the current PSV tender, which had already been reduced from 17 to 6 vessels after several reviews to the tender requirements throughout this year.
The move comes as Petrobras rethinks its offshore logistics model and financial strategy, seeking to realign the company’s budget amid rapidly escalating charter costs. As part of this process, Petrobras has already started formally approaching Offshore Vessel owners to discuss discounts on existing contracts, aiming to secure future extension periods and build a more predictable cost structure for its offshore support fleet.
The absence of pre-confirmed Petrobras representatives was noted at this week’s OSJ Conference in Rio de Janeiro, where market analysts and brokers emphasized a tightening supply, growing demand, and rising PSV dayrates — all in contrast with Petrobras’ current cautionary stance and WSB’s forecast.
How the company recalibrates its position in the months ahead will be different.
WSB Advisors continues to monitor Petrobras’ fleet strategy and its broader impact on Brazil’s offshore logistics landscape.
Following WSB’s previous update on the disqualification of one contender from Lot B of Transpetro’s Gas Carrier Newbuild Program (TP-25), the tender has now advanced into its decisive evaluation phase.
With the removal of the previous participant, the evaluation proceeds with a configuration that yields the lowest consolidated value to Petrobras under the current assessment criteria:
Lot A – KIT L.L.C-FZ Lot B – ECOVIX Construções Oceânicas S.A. Combined total: USD 491.8 million
The TP-25 program continues to stand as one of Brazil’s most relevant initiatives for fleet renewal and coastal gas logistics, marking an important step in the country’s shipbuilding and energy infrastructure agenda.
WSB Advisors will keep following the developments closely as the process moves toward final selection.
Petrobras has extended the deadlines for several offshore opportunities, now open for submission:
• At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004497614, new deadline October 20th, 2025 • At least 1x FSV: Opportunity 7004492292, new deadline October 20th, 2025 • At least 1x LH: Opportunity 7004484466, new deadline October 20th, 2025 • At least 1x FSC 10/25/60: Opportunity 7004480345, new deadline October 21st, 2025
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
Petrobras has reported hydrocarbon findings in the pre-salt of the Campos Basin. The company notified Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency (ANP) about the presence of oil traces in the Água Marinha block, in well 1-BRSA-1401DA-RJS. The well was drilled in July by the drillship Deepwater Aquila at a water depth of 2,601 meters.
The Água Marinha block was awarded in 2022 during the first cycle of the Permanent Production Sharing Offer and the production sharing contract was signed in May 2023. Petrobras operates the block with a 30% stake, alongside TotalEnergies (30%), PETRONAS (20%) and QatarEnergy (20%).
In the Campos Basin, Petrobras has announced plans to double production from the current 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) to 1 million boed by 2035. The company also intends to invest US$ 23 billion by 2029 in its Campos Basin Revitalization Program.
Stay informed on key offshore developments — visit wsb-one.com, our data platform trusted by leading offshore companies.
AKOFS Offshore has secured a new four-year contract with Petrobras for the multipurpose support vessel (MPSV) AKOFS Santos. Built in 2009, the vessel will continue to provide subsea construction and well intervention services for the Brazilian company.
The new contract, valued at approximately USD 246 million, is set to begin in January 2027 following the conclusion of the current agreement Around USD 140 million will be recognized as revenue for AKOFS over the contract period.
Operations will be carried out in partnership with Bravante, which will provide marine support and IKM Subsea, responsible for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services. With this award, AKOFS’ order backlog has reached about USD 612 million at the end of Q2 2025.
The company currently operates three specialized vessels: AKOFS Santos and Aker Wayfarer, both under contract with Petrobras in Brazil, and AKOFS Seafarer, operating with Equinor in the North Sea.
Transpetro has announced the disqualification of IRUS Holding S.A. from Lot B of its ongoing Gas Carrier Newbuild Program (TP-25).
According to the Commission’s official communication, the decision is based on two points of non-compliance with the bidding notice and its addenda: • Lack of detailed cost breakdowns in the DFP (item 3.2.2 vii); • Absence of the required Consortium Formation Commitment Term (item 3.2.2 viii).
The appeal phase will open only after publication of the final results of the tender.
With this update, the bidding process for the eight new LPG carriers — a key component of Brazil’s coastal gas logistics plan — moves closer to its conclusion. WSB Advisors continues to monitor every stage of the TP-25 fleet renewal program, which now enters its decisive evaluation phase, determining the shipyards responsible for constructing this strategic segment of the national fleet.
Petrobras completed a pilot import of natural gas produced in the Vaca Muerta (Neuquén Basin) on October 3, moving about 100,000 cubic meters via existing pipeline routes through Bolivia into Brazil. The transport, carried out under an arrangement with Petrobras Operaciones S.A. (POSA) and Gas Bridge (Pluspetrol), is described as an experimental step that could allow interruptible imports of up to 2 million m³ under the agreement.
