11,000 tonnes of steel arrive at Ecovix as Transpetro tanker programme enters new industrial phase

The shipment represents more than half of the steel required for the first four Handy-size tankers and supports the expansion of production at the Rio Grande Shipyard.

Every major project is defined by milestones that demonstrate its transition from planning to execution.

For the Transpetro fleet renewal programme, one of those milestones has now been reached with the arrival of approximately 11,000 tonnes of steel at the Ecovix-operated Rio Grande Shipyard, in southern Brazil.

The shipment represents more than 50% of all steel plates required for the construction of the first four Handy-size tanker hulls and provides the material base for the acceleration of production at the yard.

The four vessels are being constructed by the consortium formed by Ecovix and Mac Laren, with Ecovix leading the project and carrying out the principal construction activities at the Rio Grande Shipyard.

The arrival of the steel is particularly significant because it marks the beginning of a more intensive industrial phase. Construction will proceed in series, with the first hull entering production and the additional vessels being progressively incorporated into the production line.

The project is also well advanced beyond the procurement of steel. According to information available to WSB, the yard has already progressed with the acquisition of more than 90% of the equipment, materials and items required for the first four tankers.

Approximately 500 people are already directly employed at the Rio Grande Shipyard in connection with the project. This new production phase is expected to support the addition of a further 500 positions, bringing the total number of direct jobs to approximately 1,000.

The first four Handy-size tankers form part of a broader portfolio of 13 vessels already contracted for construction at the Rio Grande Shipyard, reinforcing the scale and long-term relevance of the industrial mobilisation now underway in Rio Grande.

Speaking to O Litorâneo during the steel delivery, Transpetro’s Maritime Transportation Director, Jones Soares, highlighted the importance of the projects for both Transpetro and Petrobras and expressed his personal confidence in their successful execution.

The arrival of 11,000 tonnes of steel is therefore more than a logistics event. It is a visible and measurable indication that the project is advancing into physical execution, supported by large-scale procurement, workforce mobilisation and the progressive reactivation of the shipbuilding supply chain.

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