Locar’s Marina I mobilisation has restarted, with the multipurpose support vessel heading for Argentina to undertake work associated with the VMOS consortium, One Energy News reported. The departure follows an earlier return to Guanabara Bay.
In its latest update, the outlet cited AIS observations from WSB-One.com showing the vessel heading south off Santa Catarina on 9 October 2026. It reported that the assignment remained linked to a charter with Arendal/HOC.
The vessel’s expected role in the project was described before the interruption. In an interview published by ArgenPorts on 29 September 2026, Carlos Luis Paz, president of Raul A. Negro y Cia. S.A., identified Marina I as an upcoming addition to the support vessels serving the VMOS subsea pipeline installation.
His company had been engaged by HOC Contratistas S.A. to provide underwater assistance. Paz said Marina I would support diving work using dynamic positioning. The vessel-based activities he outlined included checking the pipeline after it reached the seabed, operating flooding valves, hydraulic testing and inspections using intelligent pigs.
The earlier return to Brazil had drawn attention to crew recruitment. In a statement issued on 6 October 2026, SINDMAR, which represents maritime officers in Brazil, said the vessel turned back following intervention by CONTTMAF and maritime unions. SINDMAR attributed their action to allegations about recruitment through COOPERPORTOMAR.
SINDMAR said the case had been presented to the International Transport Workers’ Federation and that Argentine maritime unions had been alerted to the allegations.
The renewed voyage was reported by One Energy News, but the material reviewed did not establish whether the crew recruitment concerns had been resolved.
