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Bahia State Stands Out With Investments Aimed at Building Offshore Vessels and Modernizing Shipyards, Consolidating Strategic Position in the Brazilian Naval Industry and Boosting the Regional Economy.
Bahia has achieved the status of the largest beneficiary of investments authorized at the first 2025 meeting of the Board of Directors of the Merchant Marine Fund (FMM), with the approval of over R$ 7.1 billion aimed at strengthening the local naval industry.
The funds cover two new projects and one resubmitted for an extension of deadline, which together will modernize shipyards and allow for the construction of offshore vessels — a significant milestone for the economic and industrial development of the state and the entire Northeast region.
Investments Boost Bahia’s Naval Industry
With the new investments, Bahia takes center stage in the naval sector, expanding its capacity to build and maintain high-performance vessels.
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Styrofoam block cut with hot wire turned into a real boat with three layers of fiberglass and polyester resin, floats without rotting or rusting, carries up to five people, and uses a professional shipyard sandwich technique for less than R$ 500 per square meter.
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The resources are part of the total of R$ 22 billion approved nationally during the FMM meeting held in May, which covered 26 projects across Brazil, including construction, dredging, repairs, modernization of existing units, expansion of shipyards, and new port infrastructures.
Among the highlights from Bahia is the construction of four vessels of the RSV type (ROV Support Vessel), critical for offshore operations in the oil and gas sector.
The investment, estimated at R$ 2.8 billion, will be executed by DOF Subsea Brasil Serviços Ltda and is expected to generate about 1,400 direct jobs over the four years outlined in the schedule.
RSVs are highly specialized vessels designed to support remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), performing interventions in deep waters with high precision and safety.
Expansion of Shipyards and Job Creation
Another relevant project is from Belov Offshore Industrial Ltda, which will expand and modernize its shipyard located in Bahia, with an investment of R$ 73.6 million.
The initiative includes the installation of new equipment, modernization of structures, and compliance with stricter environmental standards.
There are 550 direct jobs expected from this expansion, strengthening the local maritime support chain and projecting Bahia as a supplier of high-quality services for the global naval market.
Also within the approved investments, the FMM Board extended the construction deadline of ten offshore support vessels of the PSV 5000 Green model from CMM Offshore Brasil.
The project, totaling R$ 4.2 billion, will also be executed in the state, confirming confidence in the logistical, technical, and productive potential of the region.
Regional and National Impact
According to the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, these initiatives represent much more than direct investment in works and equipment. They signify technological and social progress.
“In addition to modernizing the state’s naval industry, these projects create jobs, income, qualification of workers in the sector, and development of new technologies, benefiting the entire region,” highlighted the minister.
Dino Antunes, National Secretary of Waterways and Navigation, adds that the projects are primarily aimed at the offshore industry, with great growth potential.
“They are mainly projects related to the offshore industry, that is, for the construction of vessels that will work in support of oil production offshore. We also had the requalification of shipyards. These approvals bring a huge potential for development of the region that will receive these construction projects and then, also, for the operation of the vessels,” he stated.
Merchant Marine Fund: Promoting the Naval Industry of Bahia and Brazil
The Merchant Marine Fund is a strategic instrument of the federal government for strengthening the Merchant Navy and the Brazilian naval industry.
Managed by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, through the Board of Directors of the FMM (CDFMM), the fund is financially operated by institutions such as the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Banco do Brasil, Banco do Nordeste, Banco da Amazônia, and Caixa Econômica Federal.
The record approval of R$ 22 billion at the last board meeting represents the largest volume of resources released in a single meeting, consolidating the FMM as a key piece in the recovery and expansion of the naval industry in Brazil.
The consolidation of Bahia as the largest recipient of FMM resources at the beginning of 2025 is a direct reflection of the logistical potential, skilled labor, and already installed infrastructure in the state.
With projects that strengthen the offshore industry, modernize shipyards, and create thousands of direct jobs, Bahia emerges as a strategic hub for the Brazilian naval industry, contributing not only to regional economic development but also to strengthening the country’s maritime sovereignty.
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