Calgary-based oil giant Cenovus could be heading for a rough political ride in Canada after shortlisting shipyards in Europe to revamp its SeaRose floating production, storage and offloading vessel, with little FPSO-related work handled in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Provincial trades unions and politicians are already fulminating about Suncor Energy revamping its Terra Nova FPSO at Navantia shipyard in Spain, a contract paid for by Canadian taxpayers, but which was hit by major cost and schedule overruns, with very little work undertaken in Newfoundland.