Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Sep 20 (IANS/EFE): Mexican state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos signed a 300-million-euro ($392 million) deal Wednesday for the construction of two floating hotels, or flotels, at shipyards in northwestern Spain.

The president of the autonomous community of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the deal stems from commitments made by Pemex in May to build several ships in that region.

The contracts were signed by Jose Manuel Carrera, head of Pemex Internacional Espana; Ramon Aguirre Rodriguez, president of the Sepi industrial holding company that owns state-owed Spanish shipbuilder Navantia; and Jose Garcia Costa, president of Spanish private shipyard Barreras.

The two flotels will be identical, both measuring 131 meters in length with a 27-meter beam and a deadweight of 7,000 tonnes. They will be able to travel at a maximum speed of 12 knots and have the capacity to house 600 oil workers.

They are to be delivered in a period of 30 months and the start of construction is imminent.

According to Nunez, the two flotels to be built in shipyards in the cities of Ferrol and Vigo will "guarantee employment for more than two years to a total of 3,000 people".

Feijoo thanked Pemex for "not disappointing expectations" and said Galicia has great hopes for the world's No. 4 oil company.

He added that Pemex's "orders for 14 tugs remain on course", seven of which are to be built entirely in Galicia and another seven "between Galicia and Mexican shipyards".