Brazil is living through exciting days. Oil & gas offshore exploration and production growth is a reality backed-up by the oil giant Petrobras’ investments to enable the country to become self-sufficient in oil (in volume) by early 2006 and an exporter in the years to come.

The shipbuilding industry has been revitalised to support this offshore wave, building offshore support vessels and semi-sub rigs and converting FPSOs. Now the merchant-shipping segment is indicating that it wants to take part in this boom.

In the article on page 6, four influential senior managers from the Brazilian shipping and shipbuilding industries share their views on the perspectives for both segments.

Again, Petrobras is the driving force, through its logistic arm Transpetro’s Request For Proposals (RFP) to build the first 26 out of 42 tankers in Brazil. However, private shipping companies are also a serious factor, having sent several enquiries to shipyards and with many projects under consideration. Venezuelan PDVSA has also sent RFPs to Brazilian shipyards. The reason for this revival is a combination of factors: the demand for fleet renewal, the availability of favourable local financing terms, the political determination, and the hard work of individuals and organisations.

The shipyards are already close to their maximum capacity under present conditions, and have not built these types and sizes of ships for some time. Several of the yards have already obtained financing for upgrading and industrial groups have obtained financing for building new facilities to cope with this expected shipbuilding demand. Most are signing partnership agreements with international leading shipyards for technological assistance. The goal is for Brazil to become globally competitive and be a world player once again.

Along with DNV Technology Services’ growth in Brazil to support the oil & gas industry, DNV Maritime, which is this year celebrating 31 years in Brazil, is monitoring the outlook closely and preparing its personnel accordingly in order to continue delivering quality services to present and future customers and to expand as required.