Shipbuilding Resumes at Rio Grande Shipyard After Nearly a Decade

After nearly ten years, the Rio Grande Shipyard is set to resume shipbuilding. This milestone was formalized on Monday (24) with the signing of a contract between the Ecovix Group and Mac Laren Shipyard consortium for the construction of four Handy-class vessels for Transpetro—a project expected to create over 1,000 jobs in southern Rio Grande do Sul.

The ceremony was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and various national, state, and local officials, who hailed the development as a key milestone for the Rio Grande Naval Hub. Hundreds of people gathered at the shipyard to witness the event.

The Ecovix-Mac Laren consortium, based in Rio de Janeiro, was the sole qualifying bidder in Transpetro’s international tender. The 15,000 to 18,000-deadweight-ton (DWT) Handy-class vessels will have their hulls built in Rio Grande, while commissioning will take place in Rio de Janeiro. The project is expected to take about three years, with work set to begin in the coming months. The total investment stands at $278 million.

“We waited years for this moment, but we never lost faith in the shipyard’s revival. We took a responsible approach, step by step, to reach this day. I thank the hundreds of workers who never stopped believing in better days. This massive asset must never be left idle again—it belongs to the Brazilian nation,” said José Antunes Sobrinho, a shareholder at Ecovix.

During the event, Antunes emphasized the importance of protecting national shipbuilding industries, citing examples like Norway, Singapore, and the United States, where local content policies safeguard domestic jobs.

“No country with both market demand and shipbuilding capacity fails to protect its workforce. A minimum local content requirement is essential to sustain employment and income in capital-intensive assets like a shipyard,” he stated.

President Lula echoed the sentiment, calling the contract signing a symbolic moment and underscoring the strategic role of Petrobras and a strong shipbuilding industry. “A nation with a robust shipbuilding industry becomes more competitive on the global stage. This shipyard is coming back to life,” he declared.

A Turning Point for Rio Grande

The contract signing was widely celebrated by officials in attendance. “The ships we commissioned today will be crucial for Petrobras’ logistics. And 2025 will go down in Rio Grande’s history as the turning point toward a better future,” said Sérgio Bacci, president of Transpetro, noting that revitalizing shipbuilding will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The acting governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Gabriel Souza, also welcomed the shipyard’s revival, stating: “I’m certain this is just the beginning of a series of new contracts for the shipyard.” He emphasized the importance of investments in offshore industries and renewable energy.

For Rio Grande Mayor Darlene Pereira, the project represents the return of hope: “These four vessels are just the start of much more to come.” She also reaffirmed the city’s commitment to supporting offshore industry growth, calling Rio Grande “one of the best locations” for the sector.

Next Steps

Following the contract signing, Ecovix will begin preparing the shipyard, focusing on facility upgrades, maintenance, and acquiring tools and machinery. The company expects hiring for ship construction to ramp up in the second half of the year.

At the peak of production, the shipyard workforce is projected to reach 1,400 employees, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery by late 2027.

“We have a modern facility that requires minimal adaptation and a highly skilled workforce to take on this challenge. This shipyard has the physical capacity to generate over 4,500 jobs,” Antunes emphasized.

A Responsible Comeback

The Transpetro contract marks the shipyard’s return to shipbuilding after nearly a decade. In 2016, operations were shut down due to a downturn in the sector, leading Ecovix through a judicial recovery process and a carefully managed business turnaround.

Since then, the shipyard has focused on ship repairs. In 2021, the Siem Helix I—an offshore well stimulation vessel operating in the Campos Basin—underwent maintenance at the facility. Over the past three years, 25 vessels have been serviced there, generating hundreds of jobs.

Another major milestone came in December 2023, when the P-32 platform was brought into Ecovix’s dry dock for dismantling. The Gerdau-hired project, carried out under Petrobras’ new sustainable decommissioning model, will soon be followed by the P-33 platform.

Looking ahead, Ecovix plans to bid on new Petrobras and Transpetro contracts, including a recently announced tender for eight gas carriers. “Our vision for Rio Grande Shipyard includes offshore projects, platform upgrades, and new vessels for Transpetro’s fleet,” Antunes concluded.

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