Brasa completes FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela (Brazil)

Brazil’s Brasa shipyard has informed that FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela has sailed away from the Niteroi-Rio based shipyard on Monday 15th September 2014.

The departure of the vessel represents a major achievement for Brasa, having opened for business a mere two years ago in July 2012. The yard fabricated 10 of the FPSO’s 18 modules – weighing a total of about 12,500 tonnes. Integration of the hull and topsides also took place there, using Brasa’s heavy lift crane barge, which has the highest capacity in Latin America.

“We are delighted with the successful completion of Ilhabela. She places Brasa on the radar for mega FPSO projects in Brazil. The yard is the industry´s example of how local content can positively affect and drive the Brazilianization of Naval Construction. We look forward to welcoming the next large FPSO Cidade de Maricá at Brasa followed by her twin FPSO Cidade de Saquarema. Brasa´s capacity to deliver two FPSOs simultaneously, clearly exemplifies the success behind the local content policies set forth by Brazilian regulation. Brasa is paving the way and setting an ambitious benchmark which, has yet to be replicated in Brazil. Our strategic location within the calm waters of Guanabara Bay will clear the way for eliminating major bottlenecks and is helping build Brazil´s prosperous future,” says Rodrigo Gomes, Business Development Manager at Brasa.

Commenting on the yard’s completion of its scope for the project SBM Offshore Project Manager Martijn Kleijn says: “After eight active months berthed at Brasa, the FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela has departed from the quayside. The project team has worked to the highest industry standards and the superior work achieved by the yard is a testimony to the skill and pride brought to this project. The vessel has passed all the necessary audits and inspections and has sailed to go to anchorage for sea trials and preliminary acceptance, followed by sailing to the final destination offshore.”

FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela

The FPSO is owned and will be operated by Joint Venture partners SBM Offshore N.V., Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás S.A.(QGOG) and Mitsubishi Corporation under a 20-year lease contract for Petrobras.

Location: BM-S-9 block – Sapinhoá Field, Partners in Block – Petrobras (45%), BG E&P BRASIL LTDA (30%) and REPSOL YPF BRASIL S.A. (25%).

BRASA – background

Developed in 50:50 partnership with Brazil’s Synergy Group and Dutch services provider SBM Offshore, Estaleiro Brasa has been operational since July 2012. Created to develop innovative solutions for the growing demand in the construction and oil exploration industry, the yard has gained a reputation for quality work to international standards. Brasa is dedicated to the construction and integration of modules for mega FPSOs. Cidade de Ilhabela is the first FPSO to be integrated at Brasa’s quay number two. The vessel arrived at the yard in January 2014 following her 10,625 Nm (19,678 Km) voyage from China, where conversion work on the hull was completed in October 2013.