Brazilian Coast News

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Brazil’s state-owned energy giant Petrobras have signed a charter contract for cargo transfer vessel (CTV) SeaLoader 2, and agreed to start negotiations for a new CTV shipbuilding contract by the end of 2024.MOL signed the deal through its wholly owned subsidiary, SeaLoading Holding, which owns and operates CTVs.SeaLoading started a CTV agreement with Petrobras for SeaLoader 2 on a trial period in January 2022, and successfully completed more than 30 crude oil offloading operations from Petrobras' FPSOs located in the Santos Basin…

Wärtsilä said it will supply the engines for two new articulated tug barges (ATBs), designed by Robert Allan Ltd and built by Estaleiro Rio Maguari for Brazilian logistics integrator Alianҫa Navegaҫão e Logística, a member of A.P.Moller - Maersk.The order was placed in May 2022, and according to Wärtsilä, the main consideration in the award of the contract was to minimize fuel consumption and emissions in line with the company’s commitment towards decarbonizing its operations. The two 6400 kW vessels are being built at the Estaleiro Rio Maguari yard in Brazil.

Brazilian health agency Anvisa on Sunday warned passengers against boarding cruise ships operating along the Brazilian coast after outbreaks of COVID-19 affecting crew and customers, according to a statement on its website.The move follows a call for the "immediate temporary interruption of the cruise ship season in Brazil" as they pose a risk to public health."In view of recent events, Anvisa does not recommend the embarkation of passengers who have trips scheduled on cruise ships for the next few days…

Eying recent demand increases and oil prices recovery in the international market, Brazil's largest tug operator says it is ramping up to support a growing number of offshore oil and gas projects expected to take off in the coming years.Globally, around 30 production floater contracts are now queued up for award over the next 18 months, assuming no major market disruption occurs and the supply chain can absorb the orders within this time frame, according to an in-depth market analysis recently completed by International Maritime Associates/World Energy Reports.Wilson Sons…

Wilson Sons, through its Towage unit, participated in the first ship-to-ship offshore operation for the transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through a ULGC (Ultra Large Gas Carrier) vessel of Q-FLEX type in Brazil. The ship is considered one of the largest gas carriers in the world with a capacity of 215,000 cubic meters.This unprecedented operation took place at the Celse’s terminal, in Barra dos Coqueiros (SE), and aimed to supply the Porto de Sergipe Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE), operated by the company.

A new gas law in Brazil aims to see liquefied natural gas (LNG) will have a relevant role in the national market, a move that could drive new opportunties on the waterfront.Wilson Sons, the largest operator of maritime and port logistics in the Brazilian market, stands to benefit, and last year the company's Towage division carried out more than 25 special operations, which included services to the natural gas or LNG sector, as support for gas carriers and FSRUs (Floating Storage Regasification Unit)…

Malaysia's Yinson said its floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) Anna Nery sailed away from the Cosco Qidong shipyard in Jiangsu, China and has entered drydock at the Cosco Changxing shipyard in Shanghai, marking the next phase of the FPSO construction.FPSO Anna Nery, which is being built from a converted tanker Falcon, is Yinson’s first asset planned for deployment in Brazil and the largest project to date. The FPSO will be deployed at Petrobras' Marlim field in the Campos Basin…

Malaysian FPSO provider Yinson has ordered a large marine compressed air system from TMC for the FPSO Anna Nery, which currently under construction in China, and destined for Petrobras' Marlim revitalization project in Brazil.TMC's compressed air system will consist of four large capacity service and instrument air compressors with associated air dryers and filters. TMC has not revealed the value of the contract.Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s director of sales and business development:"When you operate far from shore, you need powerful and reliable air supply onboard.

A 340-meter-long very large ore carrier (VLOC) that ran aground off the coast of Brazil earlier this year will be scuttled due to the extent of hull damage suffered as a result of the incident, Brazilian authorities said.The 300,660 dwt Stellar Banner, owned and operated by the South Korean company Polaris Shipping, ran aground while carrying iron ore bound for China from Vale's terminal in Maranhão in February. The 2016-built ship began listing heavily but did not capsize, and…

Brazil's federal police on Friday announced a potential breakthrough in the investigation into the causes of a mysterious oil spill that has baffled authorities and Brazilians for about two months.Police said they were investigating a Greek-flagged ship allegedly responsible for the oil spill, which they claim may have occurred about 700 km (420 miles) off the Brazilian coast between July 28-29 after the vessel made a stop in Venezuela.In a statement, federal police said they were carrying out search warrants at addresses linked to a company of Greek nationality.Brazilian authorities said they had also requested cooperation from international agencies…

Brazil's top court on Thursday ordered state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA to refuel two Iranian grain vessels stranded on the Brazilian coast due to U.S. sanctions holding up sales of fuel needed for their return trips.Chief Justice Dias Toffoli overturned a lower court ruling that allowed Petrobras, as the oil major is known, to refrain from fueling the vessels.Petrobras had denied service, citing the risk of consequences from U.S. sanctions. However, the risk is reduced if it is simply obeying a Supreme Court ruling…

For a long time there has been a deficit of trained maritime officers in Brazil, as for decades the only accredited training institutes were run by the Brazilian Navy, where a very limited number of prospective maritime deck and engine officers could be trained at its two training institutes in the country. That's all changing now with the Institute of Nautical Sciences (ICN) leading the way.With the discovery of the pre-salt in 2007 and the continued growth of the maritime and offshore sectors, the lack of qualified Brazilian officers became acute. For many years, and even today, most offshore captains and officers are foreigners, while there is a more significant number of local captains and officers in the merchant fleet.

Stena Bulk said it has signed a contract with Brazil's state-owned oil company to charter out a pair of MR product tankers for transporting refined products along the Brazilian coast. The two-year deal includes the option to extend the charters for another 11 months.The 47,000 dwt tankers, Stena Conqueror and Stena Conquest, were built in 2003 and 2004 respectively.“We have a long-standing, highly-valued relationship with Petrobras when it comes to both Suezmax and MR tankers and we are committed to continue to provide them with safe and efficient deliveries.

Brazil is still attracting cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, which is bringing a ship to Brazil for the first time in the 2016/2017 season. However, hard numbers do not bode well for the industry as the number of cruises dropped by more than half in four years, with a staggering 54 percent decrease in the number of regular cruise ships on the Brazilian coast. In 2012, the season had 15 regular ships, while this year there will be only seven, and the number of passengers boarding at Santos port will be 42 percent lower. The 2010/2011 season of cruises hit the record for ships on the Brazilian coast: 20. Since then, this number has fallen year on year…

The influx of ships and rigs sailing into and out of Brazilian ports since the discovery of large pre-salt plays off Brazil in 2007, and the opening of new ports and shipyards during the past decade has led to a sharp increase in towing operations in Brazil. MR spoke to Sergio Guedes, Director of Operations at Wilson Sons Towage, about the towage and salvage markets in Brazil. Wilson Sons Group is one of the largest integrated operators in port and maritime logistics in Brazil. The company has more than a century of experience and is also present in shipbuilding and offshore support services. Its towage fleet is present in ports all along Brazil’s lengthy coast.

To power four new harbor tugboats under construction in Brazil, global towage and emergency response provider Svitzer turned to Caterpillar — purchasing eight Cat 3516C marine propulsion engines and eight C4.4 generator sets. Part of the Maersk Group, the world’s largest container shipping company, Svitzer operates a fleet of more than 430 vessels globally. Earlier in 2015, the company acquired a controlling stake in Brazilian harbor towage company Transmar Servicos Maritimos—now known as Svitzer Brazil. The new harbor tugs will join an existing fleet operating along the Brazilian coast. “Svitzer is a long-time Cat customer, with many vessels powered by Cat engines,” said Rodrigo Feria, marine sales manager for Sotreq, the Cat dealer that led sales efforts on the project.

With the christening of the new container ship “Vicente Pinzón”, the Hamburg Süd subsidiary Alianҫa has -- for the moment -- completed the expansion and modernization of its fleet. In the past two years, Alianҫa has launched a total of six newbuildings for its cabotage services, four of which feature a slot capacity of 3,800 TEU each and two with 4,800 TEU each. All newbuildings have set new standards in the Brazilian coastal routes in terms of their capacity and environmental characteristic.

With the christening of the new container ship “Vicente Pinzón”, the Hamburg Süd subsidiary Alianҫa has momentarily completed the expansion and modernisation of its cabotage fleet. In the past two years, Alianҫa has launched a total of six newbuildings for its cabotage services, four of which feature a slot capacity of 3,800 TEU each and two with 4,800 TEU each. All newbuildings have set new standards in the Brazilian coastal routes in terms of their capacity and environmental friendliness. The christening took place on 20 June in front of some 500 guests at the Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros in the Port of Santos. This port is not only by far the most important for the shipping group in South America in terms of the number of transports, Santos is also the No.

1806  - Spring pole cable drilling developed in US. 1844  - Fluid circulating rotary well drilling patented in England. 1845  - Circulated fluid used to remove drill cuttings for first time. 1860  - Fluid circulation rotary diamond coring drill developed in France. 1869 – T homas Fitch Rowland  patents  a “submarine drilling apparatus,” a fixed, working platform for drilling offshore to a depth of almost 50 feet. The anchored tower had telescoping legs, similar to modern offshore platforms. 1878  - First bulk oil tanker begins operation in the Caspian Sea. 1891  - First ocean-going tanker launched. 1897  - Wells drilled off piers in Summerland, Calif. 1905 – Oil discovered in the Caddo Pine Island field in Lousiana. 1911  -  Gulf Refining Co.

For decades, Vulkan  has been a supplier of couplings, not only for Brazilian offshore industry, but also for military applications. Here business mainly focused on conventional drives such as diesel-electric systems for military ships and submarines. Now Vulkan is positioning itself on the Brazilian market as a system solution provider for nuclear propulsion and supply the Centro Experimental Aramar in Iperó with a RATO S 731T and 14 elastic mounts. The Brazilian government is currently planning the construction of a fleet of six submarines with nuclear propulsion.

Petrobras’ P-55 Floating Production Unit (FPU), the largest and the first of this kind entirely built in Brazil, is on its way to the Roncador Field, Campos Basin, where it will be installed in a water depth of 1,790 metres. The column stabilized semi-submersible has a capacity of 180,000 bopd and 6,000,000 cu m of gas. The unit is classed by Bureau Veritas. BV group companies also provided a wide range of verification and support services which made the major project possible.

For companies interested in operating in Brazil, it is important to understand the country. •    ABAC – Brazilian Coastal Ship         Owners Association. In addition, it also lodges the companies of the Port Support segment. Syndarma is a proponent of the Brazilian maritime sectors, demonstrating to the public the importance of the employment of Brazilian registered vessels in Brazilian waters as well as the necessity to expand the Brazilian merchant fleet, the return of its position of importance to the country’s external commerce and its participation on the exploration of the O&G reserves on the Brazilian coast. Syndarma has 48 associated companies in the coastal…

After spending a day exploring the sprawling Açu Superport and Industrial Complex construction site far up the northeast coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro courtesy of LLX and OSX, Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s Contributing Editor in Brazil, flew back to Rio for a conversation with Marcus Berto, LLX’s new CEO at the EBX Group headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro. “This is a not simply a port belonging to LLX. This is a port for Brazil,” he said. LLX is the logistics branch of the EBX Group, the company founded in March 2007 by Brazilian entrepreneur Eike Batista, born eying the strong demand for modern, efficient ports in Brazil.