Brazil’s Merchant Marine Fund approves R$81 mln for shipbuilding projects in South

Brazil’s Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) has approved 81 million reais ($81 million) in investments for the shipbuilding industry in the country’s southern region, with funding set to support the construction of an offshore support vessel in Santa Catarina and the creation of an estimated 350 direct jobs.

The resources were approved during the 62nd meeting of the fund’s board and include a project submitted by Oceânica Engenharia e Consultoria S.A., which plans to build the vessel at ENAV Reparo Naval Ltda, expanding local shipyard capacity and strengthening service supply for maritime navigation demand.

Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca said the projects support more balanced development of Brazil’s shipbuilding sector by expanding activity across different regions. “We are expanding the presence of the shipbuilding industry in different regions, with job creation and strengthening productive capacity,” he said.

Otto Luiz Burlier, Brazil’s national secretary for waterways and navigation, said the investment highlights the role of public policy in regional development. “This investment expands shipbuilding capacity in the South and strengthens service supply for navigation. It is an action that boosts the local economy and creates job opportunities in the region,” he said.

Fund’s role

The Merchant Marine Fund is one of Brazil’s main financing tools for shipbuilding and the waterborne transport sector. In recent years, the fund has increased the volume of approved investments, focusing on fleet modernization, job creation and strengthening national productive capacity.

The fund’s activity helps stimulate regional economies by supporting the shipbuilding supply chain, from shipyards to equipment and service providers, while also boosting employment and income and contributing to workforce training and local development.

The measure is part of the federal government’s policy to strengthen Brazil’s shipbuilding industry, aiming to increase competitiveness and expand the country’s capacity in waterborne transport.

Source: MPOR

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