Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has approved up to R$2.18 billion in financing for the construction of four offshore support vessels in Santa Catarina. The funding will come from the Merchant Marine Fund and go to Bram Offshore Transportes Marítimos.
The vessels will be ROV support vessels, designed to assist remotely operated underwater vehicles. They will be built by the Navship shipyard in Navegantes, with construction expected to run from 2027 to 2030. The project’s total planned investment is approximately R$2.42 billion.
The ships will support offshore operations, including the use of underwater vehicles for inspection, maintenance and the installation of subsea systems. The project also includes measures aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing atmospheric emissions, according to BNDES.
The bank estimates that around 2,000 jobs will be maintained at the shipyard during construction. Once the vessels are completed, their operation is expected to expand employment in maritime support activities.
This is the third BNDES operation approved in 2025–2026 using Merchant Marine Fund resources to promote new offshore support vessel construction in Santa Catarina. The three operations total R$6.6 billion and are expected to generate 4,000 jobs, the bank said.
Sources: CNN Brasil.