A surprising turn in Brasília.
Brazil’s Senate has just approved, in first vote, a bill (PL 3178/2019) that could end Petrobras’ preferential rights in the pre-salt and allow greater flexibility between production sharing and concession models. Other discussions and votes yet to take place.
This happens in a Congress where both houses are currently under the influence of the PT-led government — of President Lula. One might expect stronger moves to reinforce Petrobras’ role. Instead, what we see is a potential opening of the market to broader competition.
Democracy shows its strength when decisions are debated in Congress — even when outcomes defy expectations.
If passed, this could mark a structural shift in how Brazil attracts investment to its upstream segment.
At WSB Advisors, we’ll be following closely — and so should anyone with eyes on the pre-salt.
Tag: WSB
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WSB’s opinion – Petrobras: priority is over?
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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 SDSVs: Opportunity 7004370497 new deadline June 13th, 2025.
- Petrobras Up to 3x SOVs: Opportunity 7004460732 released May 29th, 2025.
- Petrobras Acquisition of 4x Barges and 4x Pushers: Opportunity 7004461915 released June 2nd, 2025.
What else is happening?
- Petrobras and Transpetro present exclusive briefings on their Strategic Plan through 2050, outlining bold moves for the future of offshore and energy operations.
- ANTAQ addresses shipowners with critical insights into the rising challenges of circulars and operational blockings in Brazil’s maritime sector.
- Petrobras to prioritize biofuel integration across operations, signaling a decisive shift toward cleaner, sustainable energy solutions.
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Meet CNOOC
Intcom Solutions and WSB Advisors hosted “Roof for The Tops” yesterday, June 5, to welcome part of the CNOOC delegation. The event brought together around 35 executives from leading offshore and energy companies on Westhon’s rooftop, creating a relaxed yet strategic space for exchanging ideas, insights, and strengthening industry connections.
The evening combined quality networking with good wine, appetizers and a rock and roll soundtrack, capped off by the debut of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti leading Brazil’s national football team in a goalless draw against Ecuador. -
Breaking news
· Solstad has confirmed the signing of contracts with Petrobras for the AHTS vessels Normand Sigma and Normand Sirius scheduled to begin in Q1 2026. Both contracts will run for four years with a combined gross value of approximately USD 210 million.
· WSB Advisors was present and proudly served as one of the sponsors of the Brazilian Party, a side event held during Nor-Shipping 2025. The main conference continues through Friday, June 6, and has drawn thousands of global industry leaders for high-level discussions on innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration in the maritime and offshore sectors.
· Oil States Brasil announced it has signed a contract with a major international group that operates shipyards in Brazil. The project involves specialized titanium joint welding services, one of the company’s core areas of expertise, and is linked to the topsides construction of an FPSO chartered by a major operator to a prominent international oil company.Available information suggests a possible link to the FPSO Raia, being built by BrasFELS for Equinor, or to Seatrium’s construction of the P-84 and P-85 FPSOs for Petrobras.
👉 Care to take a guess?
· Two active bidding opportunities from Petrobras remain open under SEP:
o Up to 6 PSVs (Opportunity 7004431928), with a new deadline of June 12, 2025.
o Up to 1 PSV GC (Opportunity 7004436597), also extended to June 12, 2025. -
Nor-shipping: Petrobras updates
On Wednesday, June 4, Petrobras delivered a comprehensive update on Brazil’s oil and gas landscape during the seminar “Brazil Nor-Shipping 2025: Future-Proofing Maritime Collaboration Between Brazil and Norway,” held as part of Nor-Shipping 2025.
The session was led by Marcio Pereira and attended by key stakeholders from the offshore and maritime sectors, highlighting the main themes addressed during the event. WSB Advisors was present with Raphael Montes, Pedro Pellegrini and Paulo de Tarso Rolim de Freitas.
The agenda covered projections for CO₂ emissions and Brazil’s 2050 energy mix, along with the expected demand for oil and its implications for offshore support vessels (OSVs) and cabotage shipping. The presentation also explored developments in FPSO deployment, upcoming decommissioning projects, and the role of ESG principles in shaping industry practices.
In addition, Petrobras presented insights into subsea fleet capabilities, service offerings, and long-term market forecasts, with emphasis on the growing strategic alignment between Brazilian and Norwegian companies in the energy transition. -
Transpetro bid
Transpetro , a subsidiary of Petrobras, has launched a tender for the acquisition of four barges (3,000 DWT), four pushers and one ASD tug, marking its official entry into inland waterway navigation.
The move is part of a broader plan to contract 20 barges, 20 pushers, and four ASD tugs by the end of next year. The objective is to position Transpetro among the leading operators in Brazil for the transportation of oil, oil products, and biofuels via barges.
The first units in the tender will be used for fuel transport, with the four barges expected to enter service in the first half of 2026. Brazil’s inland barge market currently moves around 10 million tons of oil and fuels per year.
“Inland waterways refers to rivers, lagoons, and sheltered waters. waters. This is a new frontier for Transpetro, which has never operated in this segment before. Given the growing demand for marine fuel distribution, the company is expanding its service offerings. These barges will load product at Transpetro terminals and supply vessels directly in barge-to-ship operations, such as Guanabara Bay,” explains Daniel Buckley, Chartering Manager and tanker expert at WSB Advisors. -
Official Commendation
Fernando Vilela Receives Official Recognition from Teresópolis City Council
This week, Fernando Vilela, CMO – Chief Marketing Officer at Westhon and WSB Advisors, was honored with an official vote of commendation by the Teresópolis City Council. Since moving to the city in late 2023, he’s consistently highlighted the region in his videos through Café na Trilha, one of Brazil’s leading cycling channels with nearly 250,000 subscribers.
He was recognized for promoting sustainable mobility, ecotourism, and sports, while consistently highlighting the natural and cultural attractions of Teresópolis. The commendation reflects his impact beyond the business sphere, where content creation intersects with purpose-driven advocacy for active living and environmental awareness.
“This recognition means a lot. Sharing the highs and lows of life, sport, and career has always been a genuine way for me to connect with people. This recognition is a reflection of that, and I’m grateful to everyone who’s been part of the journey.” said Fernando.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Councilman Raimundo Amorim and to our dear friend Adevaldo for this meaningful tribute.
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FPSO starts operations
FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão Begins Production in the Mero Field
The FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão officially began operations last weekend in the Mero Field, part of the Libra Block in the Santos Basin. Built by SBM Offshore and chartered by Petrobras, the vessel departed China in December 2024, arrived in Brazil in March, and commenced production slightly ahead of the revised schedule.
With a production capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day and the ability to compress and reinject 12 million cubic meters of gas daily, this new unit brings a substantial boost to the field’s output. The Mero Field now has a total installed production capacity of 770,000 barrels per day, an increase of 31%, reinforcing its strategic role in Brazil’s pre-salt development.
The charter agreement spans 22.5 years and solidifies SBM Offshore and Petrobras’s long-standing partnership. The Alexandre de Gusmão is now the fifth FPSO to operate in the field, joining the Guanabara, Sepetiba, Marechal Duque de Caxias, and Pioneiro de Libra. -
WSB Advisors – Staff Announcement
New Talent at WSB Advisors: Meet Maria Eduarda Camba and Paulo Cantergiani
WSB Advisors is proud to welcome two promising new talents to our team: Maria Eduarda Camba as a Shipbroker Intern and Paulo Cantergiani as a Market Analyst Intern. Both joined our Rio de Janeiro office this week and are embarking on their professional journeys in the offshore energy sector.
Maria Eduarda, or Duda, as she’s known by the team, is currently studying International Relations at UFRJ and brings strong communication skills, global perspective, and notably interest in international trade. At WSB, she will support chartering activities, assist with contract management, and be responsible for the daily updates of WSB. One, the most comprehensive offshore market database available today.
Paulo Cantergiani, a student of Electronic Engineering at IME, brings a strong foundation in programming and robotics. Passionate about technology and innovation, Paulo will focus on optimizing WSB. One and supporting broader digital transformation projects across the Westhon Group. His technical expertise will play a key role in the evolution of our internal systems and tools.
We’re excited to have Duda and Paulo on board and look forward to their growth within the group. Welcome to the team! -
Marechal Duque de Caxias: peak production
The FPSO Marechal Duque de Caxias has reached its peak production yesterday (May 19), hitting 180,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). Located in Mero field, Santos Basin pre-salt, the unit sits 180 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in 2,000 meters of water depth. The ramp-up took just 201 days, a remarkable milestone for a project of this scale.
The vessel began operations in October 2023 and is the third unit of its size installed in Mero in the last 30 months. It will be connected to 15 wells, eight producers and seven injectors for water and gas, via a comprehensive subsea infrastructure. With this unit now fully operational, Mero’s production capacity surpasses 590,000 bopd, alongside the FPSOs Pioneiro de Libra, Guanabara, and Sepetiba.
According to Sylvia Anjos, Petrobras’ Director of Exploration and Production, this performance reflects the dedication of the company’s teams and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
Starting in 2028, it will be the first FPSO in the world to deploy HISEP (High Pressure Separation), a groundbreaking technology that allows for subsea oil and gas separation. High-CO₂-content gas is re-injected into the reservoir directly from the seabed, significantly cutting emissions while optimizing oil production.
Mero is a unitized field operated by Petrobras (38.6%) in partnership with Shell Brasil (19.3%), TotalEnergies (19.3%), CNPC Brasil (9.65%), CNOOC (9.65%), and PPSA (Pré-Sal Petróleo S/A), which holds 3.5% as the government’s representative in the non-contracted area. -
Investment to boost Rio de Janeiro
The Merchant Marine Fund (FMM), managed by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, has approved R$6.6 billion in investments for the state of Rio de Janeiro. The funding, announced last week, focuses on naval and port projects, particularly those supporting the oil and gas industry.
Among the 14 projects approved is the construction of four Handy-class vessels for transporting oil byproducts for Petrobras. This initiative, valued at R$1.5 billion, will be executed by a consortium involving the Rio Grande shipyard in Rio Grande do Sul and Mac Laren shipyard in Niterói. Additionally, the Green Port shipyard in Niterói received R$242.2 million to build a new floating dock, reinforcing its role in the industry’s ongoing revival.
The FMM plays a critical role in financing Brazil’s merchant marine and shipbuilding sectors, which have recently seen renewed momentum, with several shipyards reopening and new OSV bids emerging.
Is this a signal of a lasting recovery for the industry? -
WSB Market Updates
Petrobras has awarded contracts to the Asso Trentuno and Asso Ventinove. The Asso Trentuno has already begun operations under a four-year firm contract with extension options, while the Asso Ventinove is awaiting final clearance to commence.
Navship continues its impressive growth. The shipyard recently submitted bids for the latest RSV newbuilding tender, competing alongside two other companies. If both bids are successful, Navship will have a remarkable 14 newbuilds in its pipeline, six PSVs and eight RSVs, slated for delivery over the next six years.
Stay tuned