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Petrobras signed this Thursday (14) eight contracts totaling R$ 11 billion with the Norwegian multinational DOF Subsea for the construction of four submarine support vessels at the Navship shipyard in Navegantes, Santa Catarina. According to NSC, the RSV (ROV Support Vessel) type ships will be equipped with hybrid propulsion that combines batteries, electric motors, and fuels with lower environmental impact, and the project is expected to generate around 7,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction and operation phases.
The contract was signed by Petrobras’ Executive Manager of Submarine Systems, Flavio Bretanha, and DOF’s CEO, Mario Fuzetti, as part of the Open Sea Program, aimed at renewing and expanding the Petrobras System fleet. The vessels are specialized in submarine inspection, maintenance, and repair, activities considered strategic for the continuity of offshore operations in deep and ultra-deep waters. The project aims to achieve up to 80% local content during the ship construction phase and 90% during operation, meaning that most materials, components, and services will be sourced from Brazilian suppliers. For Santa Catarina, which already hosts other billion-dollar shipbuilding projects in Itajaí, the arrival of R$ 11 billion in contracts to the Navegantes shipyard consolidates the Santa Catarina coast as one of the main naval hubs in the country.
R$ 11 billion and four ships for ultra-deep waters
The eight contracts signed by Petrobras with DOF cover not only the construction of the four ships but also the chartering and submarine support services that the vessels will perform throughout their operational lives. The RSV type ships are equipped with ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), remotely controlled underwater robots that perform inspections, repairs, and maintenance on equipment on the seabed, such as pipelines, valves, and oil well connections located thousands of meters deep.
These vessels are essential for Petrobras to maintain production in pre-salt fields, where underwater equipment operates under extreme pressure and temperature conditions. Without available RSV ships, any failure in equipment on the seabed can halt the production of an entire well until a repair vessel arrives on site. Expanding the fleet with four new ships built in Brazil reduces dependence on foreign vessels and ensures greater agility in interventions.
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7,000 jobs between construction and operation
The impact of Petrobras’ contract on the job market is significant. Estimates point to the creation of 1,500 direct jobs and 5,600 indirect jobs during the construction and operation phases of the four ships. Direct jobs include welders, boilermakers, electricians, naval engineers, and specialized technicians who will work at the Navship shipyard during the assembly of the vessels. Indirect jobs cover the entire supply chain that will produce components, materials, and services for the project.
For Navegantes and the Vale do Itajaí region, the generation of 7,000 jobs associated with a single contract represents an economic boost that goes beyond the shipyard. Hired workers consume housing, food, transportation, and local services, driving the economy of surrounding cities. The experience gained by professionals during the construction of high-tech ships also creates a qualified workforce that can be utilized in other naval projects in the region.
Hybrid propulsion: batteries and electric motors at sea
One of the most relevant aspects of Petrobras’ new vessels is the hybrid propulsion system. The ships will combine batteries, electric motors, and fuels with a lower environmental impact, a technology that allows for greater energy efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In subsea support operations, where the ship often remains positioned over a fixed point at sea for hours or days during ROV interventions, the ability to operate with battery-powered electric motors drastically reduces diesel consumption.
The adoption of hybrid propulsion is part of Petrobras’ decarbonization goals, which aim to reduce the carbon intensity of its operations. Mario Fuzetti, CEO of DOF, highlighted that the vessels are “technological, with reduced carbon emissions” and that the partnership keeps the naval industry active. For an oil company facing global pressure for sustainability, investing in ships with clean propulsion is a way to demonstrate commitment to the energy transition without compromising operational capacity.
80% local content: what this means in practice
The goal of 80% local content in construction and 90% in the operation of Petrobras ships is not just a contractual number. It means that out of every R$ 100 invested in construction, R$ 80 will be spent on materials, components, and services produced in Brazil. Steel plates, electrical systems, piping, painting, thermal insulation, safety equipment, and dozens of other items will be supplied by Brazilian companies, creating demand throughout the country’s industrial chain.
In the operational phase, the 90% local content indicates that the crew will be Brazilian, maintenance will be carried out in national shipyards, and supplies will come from local suppliers. For Petrobras, this strategy reduces exposure to exchange rates, as fewer components need to be imported in dollars. For the Brazilian naval industry, it represents an order volume that justifies investments in production capacity and the training of qualified labor.
The Navship shipyard and the naval hub of Santa Catarina
Navship, located in Navegantes, is the shipyard where Petrobras’ four ships will be built as a partner of DOF. The choice of a shipyard in Santa Catarina reinforces the state’s position as a relevant naval hub, especially considering that other billion-dollar projects are already underway on the state’s coast. Thyssenkrupp, at the Estaleiro Brasil Sul in Itajaí, is building four frigates for the Navy with an investment of approximately R$ 12 billion. The Detroit Shipyard, also in the region, is manufacturing eight vessels for offshore operations with a total investment of R$ 2.5 billion.
Adding up the three projects, the coast of Santa Catarina concentrates more than R$ 25 billion in naval construction contracts, a volume that transforms the region into one of the largest naval construction sites in Brazil. For specialized workers in the naval area, Santa Catarina becomes a destination for professional migration with job offers that few regions in the country can currently provide.
R$ 11 billion that heat up the sea and the economy
Petrobras has signed R$ 11 billion in contracts to build four hybrid propulsion submarine support ships at the Navship shipyard in Navegantes. The project will generate 7,000 jobs, have up to 90% local content, and place Santa Catarina at the center of the Petrobras System’s fleet renewal strategy. With Navy frigates in Itajaí and offshore vessels at the Detroit Shipyard, the coast of Santa Catarina accumulates more than R$ 25 billion in ongoing naval construction.
What do you think about Petrobras’ investment in ships built in Brazil? Tell us in the comments if you believe the Santa Catarina naval industry is prepared to absorb these contracts, how you evaluate hybrid propulsion in oil vessels, and if R$ 11 billion justifies the expectation of 7,000 jobs. We want to hear your opinion.
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