Hanwha Ocean revealed a new shipbuilding investment plan during a meeting with Brazilian suppliers. The company is considering establishing a shipyard in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, which has a well-developed shipbuilding infrastructure. This move will create thousands of jobs and meet the demand for offshore projects.
On August 6, the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN) revealed that Hanwha Ocean announced at the 21st edition of the Supplier Opportunities Network: Oil, Gas, Energy and Naval (RdO Fornecedores) event held in Rio de Janeiro on July 24 (local time) that the company’s new shipyard project in the Niterói region has entered the final contract signing stage.
Hanwha Ocean, while presenting its business blueprint in Brazil, mentioned its local investment plans. The company said it plans to officially launch shipyard construction within the next 30 to 45 days, begin recruiting personnel, and begin sourcing suppliers, with the goal of creating up to 7,000 jobs.
Hanwha Ocean’s investment plan aligns with Brazil’s goal to revitalize its shipbuilding industry. Last July, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially announced the shipbuilding investment plan, noting that while 90% of Brazil’s trade is carried out by sea, it cannot rely solely on foreign-flagged vessels.
Brazil has established the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) to promote the development of the shipbuilding and maritime industries. In May this year, Brazil decided to provide approximately 22 billion reais (approximately US$4.03 billion) in financial support for 26 projects such as shipyard expansion, port infrastructure construction and shipbuilding through the fund.
As a coastal city in southern Brazil and a traditional shipbuilding and marine industry hub in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Niterói has well-developed infrastructure, making it a potential investment destination for Hanwha Ocean. Brazilian companies Eisa Petro Um and STX have operated shipyards here in the past.
As a coastal city in southern Brazil and a traditional shipbuilding and marine industry hub in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Niterói has well-developed infrastructure, making it a potential investment destination for Hanwha Ocean. Brazilian companies Eisa Petro Um and STX have operated shipyards here in the past.
Hanwha Ocean will actively participate in bidding for orders by leveraging its local shipbuilding base and is interested in FPSO, FLNG, and drilling ship projects, which are in high demand in the Brazilian market. Currently, Hanwha Ocean is participating in the bidding for Petrobras’ FPSO project and emphasizes that it will cooperate with local companies in all areas, including equipment and engineering, in the process of expanding its business in Brazil.
In addition to Hanwha Ocean’s plan to build a shipyard, Brazil is also seeking cooperation with Chinese shipbuilders to improve its shipbuilding technology.
Last month, major Chinese shipbuilders China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC), China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), China COSCO Shipping Group (COSCO), and China International Marine Containers (CIMC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian shipbuilders EBR, Rio Grande, Mauá and Enseada. During the meeting, representatives from both sides discussed common interests and explored potential future collaboration, as well as Brazil’s shipbuilding policy, the Package of Incentives for Investments in National Industry (PDIC) and the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM).
It is worth mentioning that, in order to revitalize the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, Petrobras has launched the System Fleet Update and Expansion Program. Based on this program, the first phase plans to build 52 new OSVs by 2028.
The new shipbuilding program aims to reduce the Brazilian oil giant’s dependence on ship leasing and provide flexibility and efficiency for cargo handling logistics operations. At the same time, the new shipbuilding program will procure LNG carriers and MR1 product tankers for the Transpetro fleet, while equipping Petrobras with OSVs to meet its offshore oil and gas production needs.