Transpetro signs shipbuilding deal

Transpetro, the shipping and transport arm of Petrobras, has signed a contract with the Eisa shipyard for the construction of four Panamax tankers. The $349 million deal is part of Transpetro’s fleet renewal programme Promef, the company said in a statement. Last month, Transpetro also signed a $517 million agreement with the Atlantico Sul shipyard for the construction of five Aframaxes.

The first Panamax and Aframax tankers are scheduled to be delivered in August 2012 and August 2013 respectively, according to a Transpetro spokesperson. Deliveries of the three remaining Panamaxes are set for November 2012, May 2013 and September 2013. The other four Aframax vessels will be handed over in October 2013, December 2013, February 2014 and April 2014.

Promef’s first newbuilding phase entails an investment of $2.5 bill on 26 vessels, which will include 10 Suezmaxes, five Aframaxes and four Panamax tankers, four product vessels and three LPG carriers.

The Atlantico Sul shipyard will be responsible for the construction of the Suezmaxes and the Maua shipyard will be in charge of the four product tankers. These contracts are worth $1.29 billion and $277 million respectively. Itaja? shipyard, in Santa Catarina state, won the bidding to build the LPG carriers. Earlier this year, Spanish group Elcano bought Itaja? from Metalnave for $85 million.

Last July, Transpetro launched a tender for Promef’s phase two newbuilding programme, which includes a further four Suezmaxes and three Aframaxes, eight product tankers, five LPG carriers and three bunker vessels. They are expected to be finalised soon, local sources said.