Brazilian oil company Petrobras has hired an anhor-handling tug supply vessel from fleet owner Solstad Offshore to a long, lucrative contract plying the country’s pre-salt oilfields.

The AHTS Normand Drott will earn 400 million kroner ($57 million) over four years starting around mid-2009.

Solstad stock rose three percent on news a market expected to be thick with offshore support vessels can still produce winning contracts.

Petrobras leaders have promised more offshore hires and Norwegian ship owners report burgeoning Brazill business.

Hopeful Brazilian yards are still hoping for shipbuilding business after the a have-decade order boom for anchor-handlers. Ship designers have told Scandoil.com that Brazilian yards are not yet ready for the high-spec next-generation of offshore construction and well-intervention vessels.

Tags: Petrobras, Solstad Offshore