Brazil’s $278m tanker order revives shipyards and 5,000 jobs
Transpetro’s 13-vessel deal with Estaleiro Rio Grande marks the largest local shipbuilding revival in a decade.
Transpetro, the logistics subsidiary of Brazil’s state-controlled energy company Petrobras, has launched construction on a 13-vessel order at Estaleiro Rio Grande, marking a significant step in the country’s shipbuilding revival. The project, valued at $278 million, is expected to generate approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in southern Brazil.
The order is part of Transpetro’s broader Mar Aberto (Open Sea) initiative, which aims to invest over $6 billion between 2026 and 2030. The program seeks to increase the company’s logistical capacity by 83%, with plans to acquire 20 cabotage vessels, 18 barges, and 18 towboats. Additionally, Transpetro intends to charter 40 support vessels for oil and gas exploration and production. To date, the company has secured more than 50 vessel orders, primarily with Brazilian shipyards.
Expansion under the Mar Aberto program: transpetro fleet expansion
The construction of the first vessel, a Handymax tanker, began last week with a keel-laying ceremony, following an initial steel-cutting event in April. To support production, the Rio Grande yard has already imported 11,000 tons of steel from Indonesia. The 13-vessel order includes four 16,000-ton Handymax tankers, five gas carriers, and four MR1-class product tankers of 40,000 gross tonnes.
The expansion reflects a strategic pivot for Transpetro, which previously operated exclusively as a logistics provider for Petrobras. Under the new approach, the company has begun serving private-sector clients, including global trading firm Trafigura and Brazilian fuel distributor Ipiranga.
Strategic shift and industry impact
Robson Passos, CEO of Ecovix, the operator of Estaleiro Rio Grande, stated that the orders represent a “resumption of shipbuilding activity in Brazil.” The contracts have revitalized the Rio Grande yard, positioning it as a key maritime employer in the region. Other Brazilian shipyards, such as Detroit Shipyard in Itajaí and Bertolini Amazônia Shipyard in Manaus, have also benefited from Transpetro’s fleet expansion.
The first vessels are expected to be delivered by 2028, with the project reinforcing Brazil’s domestic shipbuilding industry while enhancing the country’s logistical infrastructure.
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