The naval industry and ports in the South of Brazil received BRL 4.38 billion approved by the Merchant Marine Fund during the 64th meeting of the Board of Directors (CDFMM), held on October 8. The nine projects in Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul include the construction of vessels, the expansion of a shipyard, and port infrastructure works, with an estimated 3,675 direct jobs.
Port tugs, container barges, multipurpose vessels, and units for transporting pulp and wood will be built. The proposals also include conversions and dry-docking of five vessels, the expansion of the Navship shipyard, the Mar Azul Terminal, and the concession project for the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá.
The Mar Azul terminal, in São Francisco do Sul (SC), received BRL 1.878 billion, the largest amount. The enterprise will be dedicated to general cargo handling, with a focus on steel products and fertilizers.
The project foresees land-based handling and storage areas and a berthing structure for ships and barge-and-pusher sets. The estimate is 1,800 direct jobs, with an execution period of 28 months.
Two projects will be executed by Indústria Naval Catarinense, in Navegantes. Sulnorte had BRL 324.87 million approved to build six port tugs, with an estimated 720 direct jobs and a 39-month timeframe.
Conay will receive BRL 138.8 million for the construction of two container barges, with an estimated 200 direct jobs and execution in 24 months. The vessels will be used for fluvial container transport on the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway.
In Itajaí, the Detroit shipyard will build two tugs for SAAM Towage Brasil. The project totals BRL 108.4 million, foresees 100 direct jobs, and has an execution period of 23 months. The units will be equipped with lower carbon dioxide emission engines.
Tugs assist in the berthing and unberthing maneuvers of ships. The Sulnorte and SAAM projects do not specify in which ports the vessels will be used.
In Araquari, Giramar will build four multipurpose vessels for UMI SAN. The proposal, for BRL 24.1 million, foresees ten direct jobs and a 50-month timeframe. The units will be used for navigation support services, diving, hydrography, and towing.
The Navship shipyard, in Navegantes, has two approved projects. One of them allocates BRL 128.5 million to the expansion of the productive structure, with an estimated 45 direct jobs and an execution period of 20 months.
The proposal includes a shed for ship block assembly, a blasting and painting booth, handling equipment, and improvements to industrial facilities.
The other project, by Bram Offshore, totals BRL 130.22 million for conversions and dry-docking involving five vessels. The initiative reports 320 direct jobs and a seven-month timeframe.
In Paraná, BRL 1.26 billion was approved for the concession project of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá, with an estimated 250 direct jobs and an execution period of 65 months.
The concession area comprises channels, anchorage areas, turning basins, and berths in Paranaguá Bay. This infrastructure integrates the route of ships to the facilities where loading and unloading operations are carried out.
In Rio Grande do Sul, Unes Navegação Brasil had BRL 383.1 million approved to build five vessels for transporting pulp and wood in Lagoa dos Patos. The proposal foresees 230 direct jobs and a 34-month execution period.
The construction will be carried out by Intecnial, at its naval unit in Taquari. The vessels will serve the route between the new industrial plant of Barba Negra, in Barra do Ribeiro, and the municipalities of Rio Grande and Pelotas.
Approved projects connect the production of Southern shipyards to cargo transport and handling demands. Part of the orders will serve operations in other locations, while Unes units will be destined for the pulp chain in Rio Grande do Sul itself.
In addition to the foreseen jobs, naval production can stimulate the hiring of suppliers and services and the circulation of income in the municipalities where construction takes place.
