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The shipping arm of Brazilian energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro (Petrobras) S.A. has launched a second phase of tanker orders with planned tenders for 23 vessels, Reuters reports.

Petrobras Transporte S.A. (Transpetro), a full subsidiary of Petrobras, has ordered the ships to be delivered by 2015. Included in the list of tenders are four Suezmax and three Aframax carriers with supply ships accounting for almost half of the order. Tug boats, platform anchoring vessels and spill control boats have also been added to the list.

The Transpetro announcement comes after Petrobras recently revealed that it plans to contract 146 service ships by 2014, some of which will be leased and others bought.

Transpetro currently operates a fleet of 54 oil and products carriers, which are on average 17 years old. The company started the first stage of its fleet renovation programme in 2005 and contracts for the construction of 22 out of 26 first-phase vessels have been signed. The second phase envisaged a further 16 vessels, but the number was increased to meet the company's needs.

The priority will be to build the new ships in Brazil as part of a plan to revitalize the local ship-building industry and create employment. Foreign shipyards will be able to compete for the vessel orders if they have Brazil-based operations.

Petrobras has already opened a tender for 24 service ships as part of its 146-vessel order. The company is also planning to order two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) for the transportation of oil and 40 drilling ships and platforms to operate in deep waters.