February 24 - Topaz Energy and Marine, an international oilfield services group, is set to acquire two offshore supply vessels in Brazil, for a total delivered price of USD40.4 million.

The vessels, Sea Otter and Sea Marten, were built in 2007 and 2010 and are both Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels used in support of offshore oil and gas activity.

The vessels are employed on three-year time charter contracts with Petrobras, the semi-public Brazilian oil company and the largest in Latin America.

Fazel Fazelbhoy, chief executive officer of Topaz Energy and Marine, said: "Brazil offers significant growth opportunity for Topaz, and these vessel acquisitions provide us with an excellent first entry point into the buoyant offshore market."

Topaz provides offshore support vessel and engineering services. It has a modern and diversified fleet of 100 vessels, operating primarily in the MENA and Caspian regions.