Petrobras and its logistics arm Transpetro have inked contracts valued at 2.8bn reais ($521m) to build five gas carriers, 18 barges and 18 push-boats as part of the Mar Aberto programme.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the signing ceremony in Rio Grande.
The contract for five gas carriers was awarded through international bidding. The vessels will be constructed at the Rio Grande Shipyard in Rio Grande do Sul.
This initiative will expand Transpetro's fleet from six to 14 vessels, effectively tripling its capacity for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transportation.
The project accounts for increased national gas production, with new ships scheduled for delivery every six months.
Bertolini Construção Naval da Amazônia in Amazonas is set to produce the barges, while Indústria Naval Catarinense in Santa Catarina will focus on manufacturing the push-boats.
This initiative is expected to improve Transpetro's operational control and logistical efficiency by reducing reliance on chartering, thereby streamlining logistics operations for LPG and other products.
These contracts are expected to generate more than 9,000 jobs and bolster the Brazilian industrial production chain.
Petrobras president Magda Chambriard said: “The Petrobras System is always ready to support Brazil's development. With these contracts, we are preparing Petrobras for the growth of our production in the coming years and leveraging the recovery of the national naval industry. For us, when Petrobras is stronger, Brazil is also stronger.”
Transpetro is also entering the inland navigation sector by acquiring barges and push-boats with an investment of 620.6m reais.
The new business facilitates vertical integration of bunkering operations, enabling Transpetro to maintain its own refuelling fleet at key locations including Belém, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranaguá and Rio Grande.
Transpetro president Sérgio Bacci said: “The renewal and expansion of the fleet allows us to meet the country's production growth more efficiently, reducing costs and strengthening our energy sovereignty.
“The signed contracts have the potential to generate more than 9,000 direct and indirect jobs, revitalise the shipbuilding industry and mobilise the production chain of this segment in the country. Seeing the national naval hubs being revived is undoubtedly a source of pride for all of us Brazilians.”
The Mar Aberto programme underscores Petrobras’ commitment to fleet renewal and expansion, aiming to strengthen Brazil’s shipbuilding industry alongside its Just Energy Transition objectives.
An estimated $6bn investment from 2026–30 is planned for constructing additional vessels and chartering support vessels for exploration activities.
Earlier this month, Petrobras and its partners began oil production at the Búzios 6 project, utilising the P-78 floating production, storage and offloading unit in the Búzios field within Brazil's pre-salt Santos Basin.
