Petrobras signs R$2.8bn worth deals for gas carriers, barges, pushboats

Brazil’s government-controlled oil company Petrobras and Transpetro have inked contracts valued at R$2.8bn to build five gas carriers, 18 barges, and 18 pushboats at an event with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Rio Grande.

The contracts are part of the Mar Aberto Program, an initiative aimed at renewing and expanding the fleet of the Petrobras System.

All vessels will be operated by Transpetro and built in shipyards in three states. In Rio Grande do Sul, the Rio Grande Shipyard will be responsible for building the gas carriers.

In Amazonas, the Bertolini Construção Naval da Amazônia shipyard will build the 18 barges.

In Santa Catarina, the Indústria Naval Catarinense shipyard will build the 18 pushboats.

The five gas carriers alone represent an investment of R$2.2bn. The three with a capacity of 7,000 m³ and two with 14,000 m³ are intended for the transportation of LPG and derivatives. The launch of the first unit is scheduled for up to 33 months after the start of construction, with new deliveries every six months. The contract for the gas