SBM Offshore is on the brink of ordering the hull for a new floating production, storage and offloading unit, with yards in China well placed to win work.

The impending order, which SBM said is expected to be made in the first quarter, would be the third FPSO hull under its innovative Fast4Ward design.

SBM is already constructing two Fast4Ward hulls at China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS).