Seastar Virtus begins new chapter in offshore operations

The PSV Seastar Virtus has officially commenced operations under a new contract, marking the conclusion of a refurbishment and reactivation program that brought the former Milan Tide back to active service.

Built in 2003 by Estaleiro Promar in Niterói and originally delivered to Tidewater, the vessel spent years operating in Brazilian offshore waters before later joining Astromarítima’s fleet as Astro CMT Matos.

Following a prolonged period out of service, the vessel was acquired by Seastar Brasil and underwent an extensive docking, refurbishment and class reinstatement program at DockBrasil Shipyard.

In December 2025, WSB highlighted the project as a rare example of a Brazilian-built PSV being brought back to operational relevance through significant technical and financial commitment.

Now, with the start of a new contract, the vessel has completed the transition from laid-up asset to active offshore unit.

The milestone also reinforces a broader trend seen in Brazil’s offshore support vessel market, where existing tonnage continues to attract investment amid sustained demand for operationally ready assets.