A Japan shipyard has completed the first section of MODEC’s next-generation hull for a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. finalized the forward hull section at its Yokosuka shipyard.
On July 2, the completed structure departed Japan for China, where workers will integrate it with the aft hull section currently under construction.
According to MODEC, this project represents the first deployment of its Next Generation Hull (NGH) design, which is engineered to improve construction efficiency and support complex offshore developments using a parallel multi-yard model.
Automation, emissions reduction to define next generation of FPSOs — MODEC | OilNOW
“This milestone is more than the completion of a major hull section. It demonstrates how innovation and collaboration are shaping the future of FPSO delivery,” said Soichi Ide, Head of Floating Production Solutions Business Unit, MODEC.
“By partnering with SHI-ME [Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering] on FPSO hull construction for the first time and adopting a multi-yard construction model, we are pioneering a new approach to hull fabrication that expands execution flexibility and strengthens our global delivery capabilities,” he added.
The vessel is being built for the Gato do Mato project, situated in the pre-salt Santos Basin approximately 200 kilometers south of Rio de Janeiro, offshore Brazil. The development is being conducted through a partnership between Shell, as operator, and Ecopetrol, with Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A. participating as the production sharing contract manager. The completed asset will feature a production capacity of approximately 120,000 barrels of oil per day, operating at a water depth of around 2,000 meters via a SOFEC spread mooring system.
By utilizing a multi-yard construction model, the project allows for parallel fabrication across distinct global shipyards. MODEC noted that this methodology optimizes yard capacity and enhances project execution while maintaining safety and quality protocols.
The company said the vessel represents the 19th floating production asset developed by MODEC for the Brazilian offshore sector. It also marks the second unit delivered directly to Shell by the company for operations within the Orca field.
