Gato do Mato FPSO hull section heads for China

The Gato do Mato FPSO hull section for Shell’s project is heading to China after completion at Sumitomo Heavy Industries’ (SHI-ME) Yokosuka shipyard in Japan, underscoring MODEC’s multi-yard construction approach. The FPSO will be used at the Orca field offshore Brazil and is based on MODEC’s Next Generation Hull design, with the forward section now sailing to China to be integrated with an aft section under construction. MODEC said using multiple yards helps enable parallel fabrication, optimizes shipyard capacity, and improves execution. Soichi Ide, head of the company’s Floating Production Solutions unit, said partnering with SHI-ME for the first time expands delivery flexibility. Stationed at Orca in 2,000 m of water, about 200 km south of Rio de Janeiro, the 120,000 b/d unit will use a SOFEC spread mooring system.