Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract worth more than NOK 300m (around $30m) to design and equip four methanol- and ethanol-ready handy-size product tankers for Petrobras Transporte S.A. (Transpetro).

The vessels will be built by Consórcio MareNova, a partnership between Ecovix in Rio Grande and MacLaren in Niterói, Brazil, as part of Transpetro’s fleet renewal programme.

The contract includes delivery of a complete ship design and a wide range of integrated systems, covering propulsion with Promas and a controllable-pitch propeller, deck machinery, tank gauging systems, and advanced navigation and automation solutions, including K-Bridge, K-Chief, K-Gauge, and K-Load.

Each vessel will be about 150.6 metres long and 23.4 metres wide, with a design draught of 8.2 metres and a deadweight of roughly 15,600 dwt. The ships are based on the NVC 615 PT platform, part of Kongsberg Maritime’s wider NVC design range, developed to balance operational efficiency with flexibility for alternative fuels.

With more than 50 years of ship design experience and over 1,000 vessels delivered worldwide, the company said the project reflects its continued focus on innovation and sustainability in commercial shipping.

MareNova Consortium representatives Robson Passos and Alexandre Kloh said: “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 long-standing 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.”

Ronny Pål Kvalsvik, vice president sales - ship design at Kongsberg Maritime, said: “This project demonstrates how our NVC design platform and integrated technology can help shipowners meet operational and environmental goals. We are proud to support Transpetro in renewing its fleet with vessels that are ready for the future.”

Per Egil Vedlog, chief designer at Kongsberg Maritime, added: “Our designs reflect decades of development and collaboration with the industry. These tankers will deliver efficiency and flexibility, including methanol/ethanol readiness, to meet changing market demands.”

Kongsberg Maritime is headquartered in Niterói, a key hub for Brazil’s offshore maritime activity, and has previously partnered with local yards on the construction of offshore vessels based on its UT series designs.

Since entering the Brazilian market in 2009, the company has expanded its local footprint with purpose-built facilities, including a heavy-lift workshop, automation and control labs and accredited training centres, reinforcing its long-term presence in the country’s offshore and shipbuilding industries.