Petrobras said it will issue on Friday (21), calls for the 7th round of bidding of its Fleet Renewal Program for Offshore Support Vessels (Prorefam). The state will receive proposals until June 27. The signing of the contracts is expected until October 30.

"The expectation is to sign contracts based on competitive bids, when compared to the daily reference rates available, and begin operation of vessels by the dates stipulated in the contracts", said the head of exploration and production (E&P) of Petrobras, José Formigli.

To Formigli, the expectation for the 7th round is good because of changes the company made in line with the presentation of its suppliers. During the morning the companies that won the bid of the 5th round of the program have signed contracts for eight vessels engaged last year. Bram Offshore Maritime Transport will supply four Anchor Handling and Tug Supply (AHTS), the Starnav Services Marítmos three Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) of 4,500 tons, and the Offshore Norskan an AHTS.

In addition, the state reported that the proposals for the 6th round of signings have already been received on 4 February and are being analyzed technically. Negotiations were launched on the 13th of this month and is expected to sign the contracts by April 30.

Balance 

 
Launched in 2008, the Prorefam anticipates the hiring of 146 boats in seven rounds until this year. Until the 5th round already contracted 87 of which 26 are already in operation and 61 are under construction. Of these 87 vessels contracted are 76 types of PSV and Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV), with minimal construction 60% local content, and the type 11 AHTS, with local content of 50% required.

According to the general manager of hiring E & P Petrobras services, Claudio Cesar de Araujo, the vessels of PSV had 17% more contracts than expected until the 5th round, but the AHTS, which are more sophisticated, are below the pace planned.

The E&P service manager of Petrobras, Cristina Pinho, said the problems in closing contracts in Brazil is due to technical difficulties of the domestic market to meet the most sophisticated vessels that end up raising prices. Thus, the company has resorted to the international market.

"To meet our operational needs, every time we needed Petrobras will rather the foreign market seeking AHTS.'s An extremely important vessel for us, but we will continue insisting on having AHTS's manufactured in Brazil. Already manufacture this type of boat here we have the capacity, and I believe the new shipyards are settling in Itajaí Valley and elsewhere can continue this action with us", he explained.