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Shipbuilding: SBM Offshore may delay delivery of the Mero 2 FPSO, currently under construction at shipyards in Brazil and China
The impact of the coronavirus on shipbuilding – Dutch company SBM Offshore may delay the delivery of the Sepetiba platform vessel, which will be installed in the Mero 2 field, in the Santos Basin, said the company’s executive director, Bruno Chabas, in a conference with investors last Thursday (6/8). The week starts with job vacancies for offshore and onshore professionals from Macaé experienced in the naval sector
The delivery of the unit was expected to take place in 2022, and according to the executive, the impact on the progress of the FPSO works, caused by the closure of engineering offices and suppliers due to the covid-19 pandemic, is being discussed with Petrobras,
The FPSO Sepetiba that will be installed in the Mero 2 field, in the Santos Basin, has its first oil scheduled for 2023. The unit is in the engineering and supply phase, with topside modules under construction in Brazil and China.
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The hull of the vessel is in Singapore, where the shipyards were recently reopened and the manufacture of topsides was stopped in the second quarter.
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The construction progress of the platform vessel at the shipyards appears with less than 25% of physical execution in the SBM report and 41% in the Petrobras results.
SBM Offshore is the vessel's operator and majority shareholder, with a 64,5% stake, in a consortium with Mitsubishi Corporation (20%) and Nippon (15,5%).
According to SBM's Chief Operating Officer, Philippe Barril, the company is negotiating financing with creditors for the construction of the FPSO, and the negotiations are proceeding as planned, with the expectation of finalizing prices by the end of the year.
About FPSO platforms – SBM Offshore
Currently, SBM Offshore also operates the FPSO Capixaba, whose return to operations is scheduled for this month, after interruption in April due to cases of covid-19 on board.
The platform is under maintenance. The four-month stoppage at the unit was added to the end of the contract with Petrobras, which ended in August 2022. During the period, daily rates were suspended.
SBM Offshore's global fleet comprises 15 platforms, seven of which are in Brazil: the FPSOs Espírito Santo, Anchieta, Capixaba, Cidade de Paraty, Cidade de Ilhabela, Cidade de Maricá and Cidade de Saquarema.
The Mero field is located in the Libra area, operated by Petrobras (40%) in partnership with Shell (20%), Total (20%), CNPC (10%) and CNOOC (10%).
