Brazil Maritime Sector: Latest News

The following news round up on the Brazilian marine and offshore market is provided by SSA (Voice of UK Marine Industry).

 Transpetro will issue a new tender for the procurement of three bunker vessels under Promef II (2nd phase of the Fleet Modernization and Renewal Programme) up to June 30. The Brazilian government confirmed the delivery of the first vessel to 2019 and the remaining two vessels in 2020. These vessels were originally contracted to Superpesa to be delivered in 2013, but because of the delay in the delivery dates, Transpetro cancelled the orders in December 2012.

 Last month, the Petrobras Engineering Director stated that the Brazilian local content policy must be reviewed for the next oil exploitation bidding round to allow the company to comply with its investment plan. According to the executive, as Brazilian shipyards are already working at their full capacity up to 2017 and the company will need to source services and vessels from abroad.

 Petrobras has chartered the Research Vessel “Jean Charcot”, from the Brazilian navigation company Bravante for £ 28 million. The 34 month contract will allow Petrobras to use the vessel to perform data collection and environmental monitoring activities along the Brazilian coast in depths up to 4,000 m.

 The State of Rio de Janeiro announced the winners of the tender to supply 9 ferry boats amounting £ 84.1 million. The Brazilian shipyard Inace won the tender to build 2 catamarans to transport 500 people, and the Chinese company Afai Southern shipyard (Panyu Guangzhou) will be responsible for construction of 7 ferries for the transport of 2,000 passengers. All of the ferries will be constructed in Brazil and Banco do Brasil will finance the operation.

 Odebrecht Oil and Gas (OOG) will invest £ 1.3 billion up to 2015 in order to build new offshore support vessels and oil production and exploitation facilities. OOG had sales revenue of £ 462 million in 2012, and forecast a growth of 57% for 2013.

Source: SSA