Antaq authorizes new purpose for Rio Grande shipyard

The Rio Grande shipyard, located on the southern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, gained a new purpose after the cancellation of its original activities: the construction of oil rigs. One of the targets of Operation Car Wash, the site administrator Ecovix, is in judicial recovery.

The structure is now being used as a support base for loading large ships. This is because, today, vessels often leave the Port of Rio Grande without being fully loaded due to the depth of the channel – which poses a risk of running aground. With a stop at the shipyard, where the depth is greater because the canal has been dredged, boats can be loaded with what was missing. This procedure is known as the top off maneuver.

Three such operations were authorized by the National Agency for Water Transport. The Rio Grande do Sul Port Superintendency wants authorization from regulators to make this more frequent.

Thanks to the operation, ships can leave the port fully loaded, which contributes to exports and generates income for the state.

In addition, it reduces costs for companies as it prevents vessels from stopping in Santa Catarina to finish
loading, before continuing the voyage.

In 2010, Petrobras hired Ecovix to manufacture eight platform hulls. Three years later, Operation Car Wash discovered irregularities and arrested the directors of the shipyard. In December 2016, the project of nearly R$10bn was canceled and 3,200 workers were laid off.

Source: G1

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