Stolt Offshore S.A.                                    [Graphic omitted]

        Stolt Offshore S.A. Receives $50 million Letter of Authorisation
                for Deepwater Offloading Export System in Nigeria

London, England - July 11, 2005 - Stolt Offshore S.A. (NASDAQ NM: SOSA; Oslo
Stock Exchange: STO), today announced the signing of a letter of authorisation
for the design, supply and offshore installation of a Deepwater Offloading
Export System for the Agbami development offshore Nigeria. Other Partners in the
Agbami Development include Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Inc. (an affiliate of the
Chevron Corporation), Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited, Statoil Nigeria
Limited, Famfa Oil Limited and the NNPC.

The letter of authorisation was signed by a consortium of Stolt Offshore, SBM
and a Chevron subsidiary, Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, Nigeria. The work
to be carried out by Stolt Offshore amounts to approximately $50 million and is
for the fabrication and installation of two 20" steel oil offloading pipelines
and the installation of floating offloading hoses. The offloading buoy, which is
23 metres in diameter, together with its moorings will be supplied and installed
by SBM. Stolt Offshore's Globestar yard at Warri will be used as the onshore
base and for logistic support for this project. The offloading system will be
installed in a water depth of 1,400 metres by the Seaway Polaris during the
first quarter of 2008.

JP Capron, Vice President, Africa and Mediterranean Region said "This letter of
authorisation recognises Stolt Offshore's capabilities in this type of
installation. The Agbami offloading system will be the third project of this
type that we have performed in deepwater West Africa."

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Stolt Offshore is a leading offshore contractor to the oil and gas industry,
specialising in technologically sophisticated deepwater engineering, flowline
and pipeline lay, construction, inspection and maintenance services. The Company
operates in Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, Asia Pacific, and the
Americas.
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Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements made in this press release may
include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
These statements may be identified by the use of words like "anticipate",
"believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "project", "will",
"should", "seek", and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements
reflect our current views and assumptions and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The following factors, and others which are discussed in our
public filings and submissions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
are among those that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ
materially from our forward-looking statements: the general economic conditions
and competition in the markets and businesses in which we operate; our
relationship with significant customers; the outcome of legal proceedings;
uncertainties inherent in operating internationally; the impact of laws and
regulations; and operating hazards, including spills and environmental damage.
Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these
factors, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Contacts:
Deborah Keedy / Julian Thomson
Stolt Offshore S.A.
UK +44 1932 773767 or +44 1932 773764
US  +1 877 603 0267 (toll free)
deborah.keedy@stoltoffshore.com
julian.thomson@stoltoffshore.com

Patrick Handley (UK) / Ellen Gonda (US)
Brunswick Group
UK +44 207 404 5959
US +1 212 333 3810
phandley@brunswickgroup.com
egonda@brunswickgroup.com

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