Few people know, but Petrobras is developing a culture for naming its FPSOs with great women. This is the case, for example, of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading Maria Quitéria, which is being built and should begin operating in 2025 at Jubarte field, on the coast of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, Campos Basin.
Maria Quitéria was born, lived and died in the state of Bahia where she participated in several clashes that ended with in Brazil’s Independence in Brazil’s Independence from Portugal in 1822. She was the first woman to serve in the National Army, while the official opening for them took place in 1943.
An ex-soldier, Maria Quitéria was born on July 27, 1792, lost her mother at the age of 10 and did not have a good relationship with her stepmother. This made her spend almost the whole day in the streets, learning activities more linked to the male universe, such as shooting and riding a horse.
Disguise in Army
In 1821, she sneaked out from home, had her hair cut, borrowed men’s clothing and began “calling herself” José de Medeiros. Shortly afterwards, she was discovered and reported by her father but her good work in the Army did not lead to her being expelled from the corporation.
In 1823, she returned to live with her father, who forgave her due to some reasons, including the fact that she was honored by D. Pedro I, one of the symbols of Independence and first (of two) emperors of Brazil, which has been a Republic since 1889. In the last years of her life, Maria Quitéria dedicated herself to her marriage, daughter and her health.
Maria Quitéria died on August 21, 1853, without great tributes. However, recognition came later such as the unveiling of a sculpture of her in Salvador a hundred years later. Still in 1953, the Army tried to get all military units to have a portrait of her.
Since 1996, Maria Quitéria has been the patron saint of the Brazilian Army’s Complementary Staff of Officers. Since 2018, she has been included in the Book of Heroes of the Homeland along with other important names like Anna Nery.
Nurse at war
Anna Nery, in turn, has been named there since 2009, being the first woman to join this list. Like Maria Quitéria, she is a Baiana (a person who was born in the state of Bahia), born in 1814.
Anna Justina Ferreira Nery is considered the pioneer of nursing in Brazil, as well as the Mother of all Brazilians, due to her voluntary action in the Paraguayan War (1864-1870), where this country faced the Triple Alliance (Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay).
As a nurse, Anna Nery treated thousands of soldiers in hospitals in the cities of Assunção, Corrientes and Humaitá. On the other hand, she lost one of her three children, a victim of clashes with the Paraguayans.
The FPSO is working for Petrobras in the Merlin field, which is also in the Campos Basin. There is also Anita Garibaldi. This vessel pays homage to another woman present in the Book of Heroes of the Homeland since 2012.
Hero in Brazil and in Italy
Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro was born in 1821, one year before Brazilian Independence, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Anita Garibaldi received the title “Heroine of Two Worlds”, for having participated in several battles both in Brazil and Italy alongside her husband Giuseppe Garibaldi.
They met in 1839 and were very influential, for example, in the unification of the European country. In Brazil, they fought bravely in the Farrapos War, a revolt by the South against the federal government against high taxes. Little by little, the separatist movement gained strength. The conflict lasted ten years (1835-1845) and ended with an agreement between the parties, with the maintenance of the entire national territory unified.
Anita Garibaldi became known for being a fearless woman with a thirst for freedom and justice. She also participated in fights in other countries such as Uruguay, Austria and France where Giuseppe was born. She died in 1849, pregnant with her fifth child and a victim of typhoid fever.
Her story attracted street names throughout Brazil and even the cities like Anita Garibaldi and Anitápolis, both in Santa Catarina. The heroine also inspired a film, a soap opera and even music from a samba school.
