Petrobras plans to invest 12 billion Brazilian reais, approximately $2.32 billion, to build 42 vessels at shipyards in Santa Catarina State under its Mar Aberto Program.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently visited Detroit Shipyard in Itajaí to inspect offshore support vessel construction. Petrobras said the vessels in this phase are scheduled for delivery two years ahead of the original plan.
Detroit Shipyard and Navship are jointly building 16 offshore support vessels. The Itajaí facility will construct six platform supply vessels (PSVs) and four oil spill recovery vessels (OSRVs). Another six PSVs will be built at the Navegantes facility.
The Navegantes shipyard will also build eight subsea engineering support vessels, also known as RSVs or ROV support vessels, and 18 pushboats. The pushboats are expected to join the Transpetro fleet.
The most advanced vessel currently under construction at Detroit Shipyard is the Starnav Elektra PSV, which is scheduled for delivery in July 2026. This PSV class uses a new power generation and distribution system with battery packs and remote monitoring and control of energy consumption. It is also designed for future partial operation using renewable fuels. New coating technologies and anti-fouling systems are included to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Petrobras said the Open Ocean Program supports the modernization and expansion of its fleet. The program is linked to logistics for offshore oil and gas exploration and production, as well as the development of Brazil’s shipbuilding industry.
The full plan calls for 96 new vessels by 2032, with an estimated investment of 32 billion Brazilian reais, approximately $6.186 billion, in Brazil’s shipbuilding industry. The program includes the construction and chartering of 40 offshore support vessels, 20 coastal transport vessels, 18 barges and 18 pusher tugs. At least 40% of the vessels ordered under the program are planned to be built by Brazilian shipyards, with financing from the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM).
According to the source, Petrobras has placed orders for 72 vessels under the Open Ocean Program. The remaining 30 vessels comprise four 40,000 dwt MR1 product tankers, three 7,000 m³ fully pressurized gas carriers and two 14,000 m³ fully pressurized gas carriers to be built by Rio Grande Shipyard in Brazil; 18 barges to be built by Bertolini Amazônia Shipyard in Brazil; and three 10,000 m³ semi-refrigerated LPG/ammonia carriers awarded to Dashenzhou Shipbuilding through a competitive bidding process.
