Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras has issued a major tender to contract a number of large flexible pipelaying support vessels (PLSV) for operations in the Campos and Santos basins. This initiative supports the planned deployment of multiple floating production, storage and offloading vessels in Brazilian waters, requiring powerful PLSVs for subsea operations. Petrobras currently operates a fleet of 16 PLSVs, with six charters expiring within the next year.

Tender Structure and Key Dates

The tender is divided into several lots, with commercial bids scheduled for 13 March. Petrobras is seeking both Brazilian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels, with operations set to commence between August 2027 and March 2028. The company is offering four-year charters across all lots.

Vessel Specifications and Novelty

The tender specifies distinct vessel requirements across three primary lots:

• Lot A and its subdivisions are for large PLSVs with high tonne-tension capacity designed for ultra-deep waters.
• Lot B is for units operating in relatively shallow waters.
• Lot C introduces a novelty, requiring a special type of vessel featuring a horizontal lay system (HLS). This is a new requirement believed to necessitate investments to adapt existing vessels.

Contracting Priorities and Scale

While Brazilian-flagged vessels have contracting priority under local law, it is considered extremely unlikely Petrobras will meet its needs solely with these, especially for the larger PLSVs. Depending on the final number of vessels contracted, the total value of the bidding competition could reach approximately $2 billion. Industry analysis suggests Petrobras may charter between four and five vessels to replace expiring contracts, with potentially one additional vessel in the HLS category.

Horizontal Lay System (HLS) Function

A PLSV with an HLS is a specialized vessel designed to install flexible pipes, umbilicals, and risers. The system stores these components on deck-mounted carousels or reels and lays them horizontally before they transition to a vertical position for subsea deployment. HLS is highly efficient for subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines projects, particularly when handling heavy loads or strict minimum bend radius requirements.