Chinese offshore contractor Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) is in pole position to win a contract to build the topsides for a major floating production, storage and offloading vessel destined for the pre-salt Buzios field offshore Brazil.

Multiple industry sources told Upstream that COOEC has edged out compatriots Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry, CIMC Raffles and Bomesc Offshore Engineering to secure the contract, which is being offered by a consortium of Italy’s Saipem and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.