Royal Boskalis Westminster has secured a €120M contract for the expansion of the Porto do Açu Oil Transhipment Terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The contract has been awarded by Açu Petróleo — a joint venture of Prumo Logística and Oiltanking Gmbh.

The scope of the project includes the deepening, widening and extension of the access channel and turning basin. About 32M cb m of sand, silt and clay will be dredged.

At present, the terminal's access channel has a depth of 20.5m, suitable to receive Suezmax type vessels. The depth will be increased to up to 24.5m by the end of 2017, allowing the terminal to receive very large crude carriers.

Work on the project will start immediately and is expected to be completed in late 2017. One jumbo and two large trailing suction hopper dredgers will be deployed to execute the project.

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