The competition to supply Shell with a floating production, storage and offloading vessel for its challenging $10 billion Bonga South West-Aparo (BSWA) project off Nigeria is hotting up with technical and commercial bids due to be submitted next week.

Industry sources said three groups are finalising prices and local content strategies and — notwithstanding a late contract extension — were due to file their proposals to the Anglo-Dutch giant on 11 September.