Merchant Marine Fund allocates BRL 218 million to southern Brazil

The southern region of Brazil will receive BRL 218.8 million in investments from the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM), aimed at expanding fleets, modernizing shipyards and strengthening companies in the shipbuilding sector. The funding was approved at the fourth and final 2025 meeting of the Fund’s Executive Board (CDFMM), held on December 17 and coordinated by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor).

According to Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho, the investments underscore the Fund’s strategic role in Brazil’s industrial development. “The Merchant Marine Fund has once again become a development instrument. By supporting projects in the South, we are ensuring more jobs, innovation and competitiveness, while strengthening a strategic sector for Brazil,” he said.

The approved projects are concentrated in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, reinforcing the southern region’s position as one of Brazil’s main shipbuilding hubs.

In Santa Catarina, the resources will support industrial modernization initiatives, including shipyard upgrades, as well as the construction of vessels for inland navigation, passenger transport, port support and offshore support activities. The projects involve local shipyards and naval companies, strengthening production capacity and expanding the state’s role in docking, repair and shipbuilding services.

In Rio Grande do Sul, the funds will be directed towards the modernization of a vessel dedicated to inland navigation. The project aims to upgrade the fleet used in waterway transport, improving operational efficiency, safety and reliability along inland routes.

Costa Filho noted that, beyond the industrial impact, the investments reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to regional development. “We are directing investments to where they make the greatest difference in people’s lives. Each approved project represents jobs, income, opportunities and stronger national logistics,” he said.

The final meeting of the year consolidated 2025 as one of the most significant years in the recent history of the fund. At this 61st meeting alone, BRL 5 billion in projects were approved nationwide. Over the course of the year, the Merchant Marine Fund approved a total of BRL 32.1 billion, with the potential to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs across Brazil.

Source: Ministry of Ports and Airports

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