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Union Celebrating 70 Years Projects Gradual Resumption of Activities in Shipyards, Overcoming Challenges and Targeting New Opportunities in the Naval Sector.
The National Union of the Shipbuilding and Offshore Industry (Sinaval) completes 70 years and envisions a future of recovery for the sector. Ariovaldo Rocha, president of the entity, predicts a progressive occupation of all shipyards. After a nearly decade-long hiatus of low activity between 2015 and 2023, some shipyards are already beginning to move. Others are still waiting for their inclusion in the demands announced by Petrobras and Transpetro.
Current Challenges and the Urgency for Financial Guarantees for Shipyards
The full resumption of shipyards, however, faces obstacles. Ariovaldo Rocha points out the need to overcome them. “There is a need to remove some obstacles, such as, for example, the issue of financial guarantees,” Rocha analyzes. He explains that the viability of contracts depends on these guarantees. The old Guarantee Fund, crucial for the sector, is currently not in effect.
Opportunities with Equatorial Margin, Decommissioning, and Offshore Wind
Sinaval identifies new avenues for expansion for shipyards. The exploration of the pre-salt of the Equatorial Margin, for example, is expected to drive demand for assets. Notably, the demand for marine support vessels will increase. In this segment, Brazil has developed expertise and is competitive globally. “With the government’s appropriate actions, we believe that the naval industry will grow and reach levels not seen in previous cycles,” says Rocha.
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Another promising avenue is the market for decommissioning and recycling ships and marine structures. If it consolidates, it could bring relief to shipyards during periods of lower activity. Rocha also envisions the construction of assets for the offshore wind energy market. This could become an important activity for the consolidation of the Brazilian industry.
Historical Cycles and the Consolidation of Brazilian Shipyards
In an interview with Portos e Navios, Rocha recalled the cycles of the industry. He mentioned critical periods that demanded reinvention and overcoming challenges. One of them was during the first Naval Construction Plans (PCNs) in 1973 and 1975. Shipyards, previously focused on smaller vessels, took on large contracts, even for export. This required extensive workforce training. The number of jobs jumped from 19,200 in 1972 to 39,000 in 1979.
Challenges arose in engineering and foreign trade, lacking the current computational resources. Starting in 2003, another critical period involved the construction of assets for oil and gas exploration. Support vessels, PLSVs, tankers, gas carriers, and platforms were in demand. Rocha emphasizes that all challenges were overcome. The naval industry reached a high degree of excellence, becoming a significant player in the offshore market. “In this resumption, some aspects are repeating,” Rocha noted, referring to the long period of low activity.
Brazilian shipyards were stronger and more competitive between 2003 and 2014. During that period, the government encouraged new shipyards and the modernization of existing ones. Brazil became the second-largest builder of marine support vessels, surpassed only by Norway. The most complex assets already manufactured in the country include marine support vessels like PLSVs and oil production platforms.
Government, Energy Transition, and Strategic Partnerships
Rocha notes that the current government has been sensitive to the issues of the naval sector. Measures to remove barriers and improve legislation are underway. An active Parliamentary Front facilitates dialogue with Congress. The Merchant Marine Fund (FMM) has been approving projects quickly. These initiatives generate optimism for a new cycle of progress in shipyards.
Regarding threats, Rocha mentions uncertainty in international politics. On the technical side, there is concern about future demands for sustainability. The “green economy” and the energy transition will require adaptation. However, monitoring discussions in international bodies will help resolve technical issues.
Sinaval is in favor of new partnerships between Brazilian companies and foreign groups. These collaborations have already yielded good results in previous cycles. The entity also monitors discussions about energy transition. Topics such as alternative fuels, “green hydrogen,” and offshore wind energy are on the radar for shipyards.
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