Transpetro picks finalists

Transpetro, the transport unit of Brazil’s federal energy company Petrobras, has picked four consortia as finalists to build 26 ships at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. The company is selecting the groups to build 10 Suezmax tankers, five Aframax, four Panamax, three LGP carriers and four fuel carriers.

So far only a consortium made up of Brazilian shipyard Mau Jurong and Chinese company Maric CSSC has been declared the winner of a contract to build the four fuel carriers since it was the only bidder for these ships. The winners of the other ships will depend on the appeals lodged by the two disqualified bidders.

The consortium made up of Singapore shipbuilders Keppel Fels, Brasfel and Korean Daewoo was disqualified for not giving details about financing conditions, while a group made up of Brazilian shipbuilders EISA Montagens and Korean engineering company STX was disqualified because EISA did not meet minimum net equity requirements, the statement said.

The Keppel Fels group was bidding to build the Suezmax and Aframax ships, while EISA’s disqualified bid was for the Panamax and LPG carriers. Transpetro expects a decision on the appeals to be taken in coming weeks allowing the remaining economic bids to be opened in early March.

The composition of the four groups short-listed so far are:

1. Brazilian engineering firms Camargo Corra, Andrade Gutierrez, Queiroz Galvo and shipbuilders Aker Promar and Samsung offered to build 10 Suezmax tankers and five Aframax tankers.

2. The Rio Naval consortium, made up of Brazilian Group MPE, Brazilian shipbuilder IESA, Sermetal and Hyundai offered to build 10 Suezmax, five Aframax and four Panamax tankers.

3. Brazilian-Singapore shipbuilding joint venture Mau Jurong and Chinese Maric SSC offered to build four fuel transport ships.

4. Brazilian shipyard Itaja shipyard offered to build three LPG carriers.