Transpetro launched this Friday (November 7) the third international public tender under the Petrobras System Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program. The new notice calls for the contracting of four new medium-sized MR1 (Medium Range) class vessels, with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 40,000 tons, intended for transporting oil and derivatives along the Brazilian coast.
With the notice available on the Petronect Portal, the tender will be conducted in a single lot, in which all four vessels will be contracted from the same bidder. The competition is open to all shipyards that meet the technical, legal, and economic criteria outlined in the notice. Interested companies will have 90 days to submit their proposals.
According to the schedule, the first vessel is expected to be launched within 33 months after the contract is formalized. This new tender will consolidate the contracting of the 16 vessels currently planned in Petrobras’ Business Plan for the 2025–2029 period.
“The launch of our third tender represents the fulfillment of a strategic goal of the Petrobras System. With the contracting of all vessels planned in the holding’s current Business Plan, we are advancing the expansion of Transpetro’s own fleet and reinforcing our role as drivers of the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, offering long-term order opportunities to the market,” said Transpetro President Sérgio Bacci.
As with the other tenders in the program, the MR1 vessels must incorporate solutions for greater energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The vessels will be able to run alternatively on biofuels such as ethanol, will be suitable for operations in electrified ports, and will feature modern equipment that contributes to reducing their carbon footprint. The future ships are expected to be up to 20% more efficient in terms of fuel consumption, enabling a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
About the Petrobras System Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program
Launched in July 2024, the Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program provides for the acquisition of vessels for coastal shipping along the Brazilian coast, including Handy class ships, gas carriers, and medium-sized tankers. The program aligns with Petrobras’ Business Plan for the 2025–2029 period, which includes the contracting of 16 vessels.
The program aims to strengthen the logistics of the Petrobras System, reduce exposure to freight rate fluctuations and chartering costs, and provide greater flexibility and efficiency in the logistical operations of product transportation. The initiative is part of the New Growth Acceleration Program (Novo PAC).