BW Offshore has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the construction of a large utility module for Equinor's Bay du Nord floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel project offshore Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.

Module Specifications and Scope

The required module is substantial, with a weight of 1,506 tonnes and dimensions of 27.5 meters in length, 28.9 meters in width, and 18 meters in height. The workscope is comprehensive, covering engineering, procurement, fabrication, pre-assembly, and erection of all components to deliver a fully integrated module, followed by load-out onto a transport vessel. The module is designed to house essential systems including seawater treatment, cooling medium circulation, and heating medium support. It will also contain critical equipment such as the deaerator tower, pumps, filters, heat exchangers, and skids to ensure reliable operation of the FPSO's process systems.

Procurement Process and Local Content

Fabricators responding to the EoI will be considered for an upcoming Request for Quotation (RFQ) process, with a submission deadline of 13 February. A significant context for the procurement is local content. The provincial government and local trade unions are pressuring Equinor to place deck fabrication contracts within Newfoundland & Labrador, moving beyond the operator's traditional preference for only local subsea work. A benefits agreement to clarify local content provisions is under discussion. The EoI notes that local industry experience, presence, and familiarity with regulatory requirements will be viewed favorably. Analysis suggests only two local yards—the Kiewit-owned facility in Marystown and the Bull Arm site in Trinity Bay—have the potential capacity for this module, given their history with major provincial offshore projects.

Project Context and Timeline

BW Offshore is conducting front-end engineering and design work for the high-spec FPSO for the deepwater Bay du Nord development in the Flemish Pass basin. The contract award for the utility module is targeted for the third or fourth quarter of 2026, contingent on the Bay du Nord project proceeding.