Offshore support hub
The city is home to Petrobras' Campos Basin operations and, per local sources, over 3,500 oil and gas companies.
Macae is a city in the north of Rio de Janeiro state, known as Brazil's national oil capital. It is the operational base for the Campos Basin, with Petrobras facilities, offshore service companies, the Imbetiba port and an airport used for flights to offshore platforms. Distribution partners for Macae are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Macae has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP65 to IP68 sealing | IP68 design |
| Drop and shock | A stated drop height onto concrete | Specification on request |
| Explosion protection | A separate certificate and marking | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Macae: Workshops handling offshore equipment, Onshore oil and gas handling, Offshore supply bases and quays | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Macaé. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
The city is home to Petrobras' Campos Basin operations and, per local sources, over 3,500 oil and gas companies.
With so many contractors based locally, equipment is often bought, prepared and serviced here before shipment offshore.
Macae is generally considered the centre of Brazil's offshore petroleum industry and is nicknamed Cidade do Petroleo (City of Petroleum), with many Petrobras facilities inside the town.
Macae Airport now has six helicopter operators meeting the safety standards Petrobras requires, with seven hangars, four shared lounges and a workspace area in the check-in hall.
Since the 1970s, when Petrobras chose Macae as its Campos Basin base, more than 4,000 companies have set up offices there and the population has roughly tripled.
An airport spotting guide reports about 2,000 helicopter operations a month, around 60 to 70 a day, mostly medium and heavy helicopters, plus two daily scheduled airline flights.
A rugged phone is built to survive water, dust, drops and rough handling, usually rated by an IP code and a drop specification. Ruggedness is an environmental property: it says nothing about whether a phone may be used where flammable gas or dust is present. That is decided by explosion-protection certification and marking.
The IS-04Z1 combines both: an IP68 sealed rugged build and a design for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4). The explosion-protection certificates are in progress and none has been issued.
In Macae. Macae has a warm coastal climate, with daytime highs averaging about 28.5 C and around 1,215 mm of rain a year. Quays, heliport and yards are outdoors. IP68 helps against rain and dust, though it is not an explosion-protection rating and is no substitute for one.
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Macae. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
It is designed to IP68 sealing, with glove-friendly controls. Ruggedness is not explosion protection: that depends on the certificates, which are in progress.
Likely candidates are offshore supply bases and quays, heliport and fuel storage, workshops handling offshore equipment, onshore oil and gas handling. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for Macae.
The coast is humid and salty, so expect corrosion and condensation on connectors and cases. Choose sealed housings, rinse and dry equipment after offshore trips, and ask the contractor about storage conditions at the heliport and base.
Courses are delivered by operators, specialised training centres and the city's technical institutions, and platform inductions are set by the operator. Confirm which course certificates your crew need and whether device handling is covered in the induction.
That is a common practice, since equipment is often bought, prepared and serviced here before shipment. Enrolment, configuration and charging can be done onshore in safe areas. Confirm the offshore operator's approval and documentation requirements before sending anything out.
Related guides for Macaé and for Brazil.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.