Kongsberg Wins Four-Ship Deal for New Transpetro Tankers

Why It Matters

The agreement signals accelerating adoption of alternative marine fuels and revitalizes Brazil’s shipbuilding sector, while expanding Kongsberg’s foothold in the Latin American tanker market.

Key Takeaways

• Four 15,600 dwt tankers ordered for Transpetro.
• Contract valued over $30 million for design and integrated systems.
• Vessels built for methanol and ethanol fuel readiness.
• Built at Brazil’s Consórcio Marenova shipyard partnership.
• Kongsberg to spin off, targeting growth in alternative‑fuel market.

Pulse Analysis

Kongsberg Maritime’s win underscores the Norwegian firm’s strategic push into the South American offshore market. By supplying a full suite of propulsion, maneuvering and automation technologies, Kongsberg leverages its decades‑long expertise in specialized vessels to meet Transpetro’s demand for modern, fuel‑flexible tankers. The partnership with Consórcio Marenova also highlights Brazil’s ambition to revive its shipbuilding capacity, combining Ecovix’s large‑scale facilities with MacLaren’s naval heritage to deliver state‑of‑the‑art assets.

The contract arrives at a pivotal moment for the maritime industry, as regulators and investors pressure operators to decarbonize. Methanol and ethanol, both low‑carbon alternatives, are gaining traction as viable bunker fuels, especially in regions with abundant bio‑ethanol production like Brazil. Designing tankers for dual‑fuel capability not only future‑proofs the fleet but also aligns with global emissions targets, offering operators flexibility amid evolving fuel price dynamics and supply chains.

Looking ahead, Kongsberg’s planned spin‑off could sharpen its focus on maritime digitalization and alternative‑fuel solutions, positioning the company to capture emerging market share. The deal provides a showcase project for its integrated bridge and load‑management systems, potentially opening doors to similar contracts across Latin America and beyond. As the sector pivots toward greener propulsion, firms that combine robust engineering with advanced automation are likely to dominate the next wave of tanker procurement.

Kongsberg wins four-ship deal for new Transpetro tankers

Paul Bartlett, Correspondent · February 6, 2026

![Tankers at sea – Credit: Transpetro]

Kongsberg Maritime has won a contract to design and equip four handy‑size tankers to be built in Brazil and operated by Transpetro, Petrobras’ transport subsidiary.

The 15,600 dwt tankers, prepared for future methanol/ethanol operation, are to be built at Consórcio Marenova, a joint venture between the recently restructured shipbuilder Ecovix in Rio Grande (claimed to be the largest shipyard in the southern hemisphere) and compatriot shipyard MacLaren in Niterói, close to Rio de Janeiro. The vessels, built to Kongsberg NVC 615 PT designs, are intended to combine operational efficiency with readiness for the marine fuels of the future.

The contract is worth more than $30 million and includes full design of the tankers and a range of integrated Kongsberg systems, including propulsion and manoeuvring systems, controllable‑pitch propellers, hub caps, rudder bulbs, twisted rudders, deck machinery, and tank‑gauging systems.

The Norwegian company, soon to be spun off from its parent and listed separately, will also provide navigation and automation systems including K‑Bridge, K‑Chief, K‑Gauge, and K‑Load.

Company executives at Consórcio Marenova, Robson Passos and Alexandre Kloh, stated:

“This contract with Kongsberg Maritime underscores our shared vision for innovation, sustainability, and industrial strength. By combining Ecovix’s scale and offshore heritage with MacLaren’s longstanding naval experience, MareNova is perfectly positioned to deliver these state‑of‑the‑art, future‑fuel‑ready tankers for Petrobras/Transpetro – while helping drive the renaissance of shipbuilding in Brazil.”

Kongsberg has a significant presence at its Niterói base, from which it has supplied a range of offshore vessels in its UT range, including anchor‑handling tug supply ships, platform supply vessels and other specialised craft. Latest designs offer hybrid and alternative‑fuel options.