Spanish shipbuilders finalize Pdvsa deal

Spanish shipyards Freire and Vulcano and state-run oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) finalized a contract to build five vessels for Venezuela. The agreement, amounting to Euro 400 million ($513 million), is set to be signed in the coming months. It includes the construction of three oceanographic ships and two seismic ships which will be built in the Spanish port of Vigo in the next three years. The vessels will allow Pdvsa to carry out oil prospecting and mapping of seabed without resorting to foreign firms. Currently, Pdvsa has an agreement with Norwegian firm Statoil to carry out oil exploration on the seabed of Venezuela.