Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2015)

SHIP REPAIR & CONVERSION

Brazil Quick Fix

The growth trend continues in the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, a trend that has been relatively constant during the last ? ve year. While shipbuilding is ‘ship shape,’ the reality of the Brazilian ship repair industry is somewhat muddled, populated by only a few dedicated repair yards as the focus has been squarely on newbuild.

By Claudio Paschoa, Rio de Janeiro n the other hand, Brazil’s cate), the investments in the shipbuilding national shipping industry also depends time branch (Transpetro) is now quite ship conversion industry industry have reached around $56.5 bil- on the consolidation of market niches competitive. Ship repair services are still has enjoyed steady growth, lion in the last decade and since 2004 the such as coastal shipping or cabotage, lagging behind in terms of dedicated re-

Ogrowth directly related to or- industry growth has averaged 19.5% per oil and gas transportation and offshore pair yards, yet the growing number of ders from Petrobras, mostly to convert year. This is largely due to the increase supply vessel orders,” said Rocha. “The operational shipyards and those being

VLCC tanker hulls to FPSOs. in Petrobras orders, which are a direct regional cabotage, with better strategic build should be enough to service the

According to Ariovaldo Rocha, Presi- consequence of the discovery of large prospects are related to the Amazon Ba- older ships and rigs in need of repairs.” dent of SINAVAL (Ship Construction, pre-salt plays offshore Brazil. sin and Mercosul. In tanker shipping, That is not to say that all is well, be-

Repair and Offshore National Syndi- “The future growth prospects for the Petrobras is keeping active and its mari- cause there are large numbers of aging

Worker at the EAS shipyard in Pernambuco.

(Photo: EAS Shipyard) 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JANUARY 2015

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