Starnav Elektra delivered

Starnav officially took delivery of the Starnav Elektra during a christening and delivery ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro on September 17, marking the first vessel delivered under the company’s new hybrid offshore support vessel program.

Petrobras President Magda Chambriard served as godmother of the vessel during the ceremony. Westhion was also present at the event, represented by Paulo Rolim, Advisory Services Lead.

“It is important to highlight not only Magda’s presence, but also that of Renata Baruzzi and Angélica Laureano. In addition, the crew is the first to be 100% female,” Rolim points.

Built by Detroit Brasil in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, the 5,500-dwt PSV is the first delivery from a ten-vessel construction program that will ultimately add six PSVs and four OSRVs to Starnav’s fleet for long-term operations with Petrobras.

The Elektra measures 92.1 meters in length and 20 meters in beam, with approximately 1,000 m² of deck area and accommodation for 42 people. The DP2 vessel has two 2,500 kW azimuth propulsion units and three 1,200 kW bow thrusters.

One of the vessel’s main technological features is its hybrid energy system. The Elektra is equipped with a 1,322 kWh battery system supplied by WEG, working alongside four diesel-electric generator sets.

The batteries can be used for peak shaving, absorbing variations in power demand while allowing the generators to operate closer to their most efficient load, as well as providing spinning reserve during offshore operations.

The battery bank was also sized around a Petrobras requirement for the vessel to maintain position for 20 minutes following a worst-case single failure.

Four mtu 16V 4000 M33S engines power the vessel’s four generator sets, with SCR systems enabling IMO Tier III compliance. The Elektra is also prepared to operate with HVO as an alternative to conventional marine diesel when fuel and supporting infrastructure are available.

The vessel was built to ABS class and carries ESS-LiBATTERY, HYBRID and SUSTAIN-1 notations.

The delivery is also notable for its schedule. According to Starnav and Detroit Brasil, the Elektra was completed around two years ahead of the contractual delivery date. Its basic design was developed by Detroit Brasil’s engineering team in Itajaí.

The wider Starnav program combines two Petrobras contracting rounds. Six PSVs were awarded under Opportunity 7004265988, with contracts signed in December 2024, while four OSRVs were subsequently contracted under Opportunity 7004306735 in March 2025.

According to records reviewed by Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts, the six PSV contracts awarded to Starnav have a combined value of approximately R$8.27 billion, while the four OSRV contracts total around R$6.11 billion. The charter periods extend for 12 years.

Financing is also being provided through Brazil’s Merchant Marine Fund. In September 2025, BNDES announced R$2.5 billion in FMM-backed financing for eight Starnav vessels under construction at Detroit Brasil — four PSVs and four OSRVs — against an investment of nearly R$2.9 billion for that group of vessels.

With the Starnav Elektra delivered, the program now moves from construction into offshore operations, while additional hybrid PSVs and OSRVs continue to take shape at Detroit Brasil’s shipyard.