Japan Marine United (JMU) and IHI Corporation inked an agreement to manufacture hull blocks and topsides for seven deep-sea drillships with Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS), an emerging shipyard in Brazil.
The contract value is around $250m and according to the contract, JMU and IHI get partially involved in construction of drillships which EAS had won from Brazil’s state-owned oil major Petrobras.
The manufacturing of blocks and topsides is planned to be distributed to Japan-based offices of the two firms and a training session for Brazilian technicians is also scheduled.    
The newbuilding drillships are to be completed in Brazil after delivery of blocks and etc. to EAS from 2014 to 2016.
Meanwhile, three Japanese companies, JMU, IHI and JGC Corporation had jointly established a special purpose firm, Japan EAS Investmentos e Participacoes (JEI) in Brazil back in June 12 and announced that they would acquire around 25% stake in EAS through JEI.