Merchant Marine Fund Approves R$4.38 Billion for Southern Brazil

Southern Brazil’s shipbuilding industry and ports secured approval for R$4.38 billion from the Merchant Marine Fund during the 64th meeting of its Board of Directors (CDFMM), held on October 8. The nine projects in Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul include vessel construction, a shipyard expansion and port infrastructure works, with an estimated 3,675 direct jobs.

The vessels to be built include harbor tugboats, container barges, multipurpose vessels and vessels for transporting pulp and timber. The proposals also cover conversions and dry-docking work involving five vessels, the expansion of the Navship shipyard, the Mar Azul Terminal and the Port of Paranaguá access channel concession project.

Terminal in Babitonga Bay

The Mar Azul terminal in São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, received the largest allocation, at R$1.878 billion. The facility will handle general cargo, focusing on steel products and fertilizers.

The project includes onshore handling and storage areas and berthing infrastructure for ships and barge-and-pusher combinations. It is expected to generate 1,800 direct jobs, with a completion period of 28 months.

Tugboats and Barges at Santa Catarina Shipyards

Two projects will be carried out by Indústria Naval Catarinense in Navegantes. Sulnorte secured approval for R$324.87 million to build six harbor tugboats, with 720 direct jobs expected and a completion period of 39 months.

Conay will receive R$138.8 million to build two container barges, with an estimated 200 direct jobs and a completion period of 24 months. The vessels will transport containers along the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway.

In Itajaí, the Detroit shipyard will build two tugboats for SAAM Towage Brasil. The R$108.4 million project is expected to generate 100 direct jobs and take 23 months to complete. The vessels will be equipped with engines with lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Tugboats assist ships during berthing and unberthing maneuvers. The Sulnorte and SAAM projects do not specify which ports the vessels will serve.

In Araquari, Giramar will build four multipurpose vessels for UMI SAN. The R$24.1 million proposal anticipates 10 direct jobs and a completion period of 50 months. The vessels will provide navigation support, diving, hydrographic and towing services.

Expansion and Vessel Services at Navship

The Navship shipyard in Navegantes has two approved projects. One allocates R$128.5 million to expand its production facilities, with 45 direct jobs expected and a completion period of 20 months.

The proposal includes a ship block assembly building, a blasting and painting booth, handling equipment and improvements to industrial facilities.

The other project, submitted by Bram Offshore, totals R$130.22 million for conversions and dry-docking work involving five vessels. The project lists 320 direct jobs and a completion period of seven months.

Port of Paranaguá Access Channel

In Paraná, R$1.26 billion was approved for the Port of Paranaguá access channel concession project, with an estimated 250 direct jobs and a completion period of 65 months.

The concession area encompasses channels, anchorages, turning basins and berths in Paranaguá Bay. This infrastructure forms part of the route ships take to the facilities where cargo is loaded and unloaded.

Pulp Transport on Patos Lagoon

In Rio Grande do Sul, Unes Navegação Brasil secured approval for R$383.1 million to build five vessels to transport pulp and timber on Patos Lagoon. The proposal anticipates 230 direct jobs and a completion period of 34 months.

Intecnial will build the vessels at its shipbuilding facility in Taquari. They will operate between the new Barba Negra industrial plant in Barra do Ribeiro and the municipalities of Rio Grande and Pelotas.

The approved projects link production at southern Brazilian shipyards to demand for cargo transport and handling. Some of the orders will serve operations elsewhere, while the Unes vessels will serve the pulp supply chain within Rio Grande do Sul.

Beyond the projected jobs, shipbuilding could generate additional business for suppliers and service providers and boost income circulation in the municipalities where construction takes place.

Source: Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPOR)

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