PERNAMBUCO SHIPYARD EXPECTS TO RETURN TO OPERATION

A study carried out by the Brazilian Petroleum Institute (IBP), released yesterday, mapped 48 Brazilian shipyards, finding that at least six of them are deactivated and nine are active, but with no demand for naval projects. Among the assets, but currently not in demand, are the two largest in the country: Enseada, in Bahia, and Atlântico Sul (EAS), in Ipojuca, on the South Coast of Pernambuco. Together, the two shipyards have the capacity to process more than 200 thousand tons of steel per year, equivalent to 40% of the installed capacity in the national naval industry.

Designed to build oil tankers, EAS delivered four ships to Petrobras – its only client –: João Cândido, in 2010; Zumbi dos Palmares, in 2012; Dragão do Mar, in 2013; and Portinari, in 2019 – the year in which it halted its activities. Currently, Atlântico Sul operates only in naval repairs and in the manufacture of spools to replace marine cables for oil exploration.

As Diario de Pernambuco reported exclusively, in January, EAS awaits the announcement of the federal government’s new shipping industry policy, which promises contributions of R$2 billion from the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) through investments from BNDES, to return to producing vessels. Meanwhile, the company is reactivating old registrations and planning to hire new workers.

Petrobras participated in the production of the survey. According to the president of the state-owned company, Jean Paul Prates, the company, being the main oil operator in the country, has a responsibility as the main pillar of naval demand in Brazil. “[A indústria naval] It is not an old-fashioned, outdated industry. It has new cycles, which are renewed. [Além do petróleo] we will continue to need support boats for offshore wind farms, for passenger transport, logistics”, said Prates. “We have to stop putting this label that rescuing this industry is old-fashioned, with a musty smell.”

The mapping shows that five shipyards serve Petrobras projects. Prates cited as an example the production of modules for the P78, P80 and P83 platforms, at Brasfels, in Rio de Janeiro; from P79, in EBR, in Rio Grande do Sul; and P82, in Jurong Aracruz, in Espírito Santo.

“We expect the construction of P84 and P85 to be built soon. These [junto com a P82 e P83] are the largest ever built by Petrobras with [capacidade de produção de] 225 thousand barrels/day”, said Prates.