Berg Propulsion report that it made a breakthrough into the Brazilian offshore vessel construction market, just a few months after creating a regional office in Rio de Janeiro. Berg won a contract to equip a 64m oil spill response vessel ordered by Astromaritima Navegacao at the Estaleiro Ilha (EISA) shipyard in Rio de Janeiro. Delivery of the vessel, which will operate for the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, is scheduled towards the end of 2011. Berg was tapped to supply a comprehensive propulsion package, including azimuth and tunnel thrusters, all fitted with Berg’s condition monitoring system. Petrobras has recently announced plans to build over 140 offshore support vessels in order to expand and renew its fleet.