Rio - In fact, Brazilian shipbuilders are beyond eyeing the transatlantic ocean liner market and are reported to be about to sign a contract for the construction of two of them with an Italian shipbuilding firm. The ships will have a capacity of 1,500 tourists each. And it will be the first time the country's shipyards have done this type of work.

The announcement of the deal was made by the president of the Rio Federation of Industries (Firjan), Eduardo Eugênio Gouveia Vieira, at a congress on maritime transportation (20º Congresso Nacional de Transportes Marítimos, Construção Naval e Offshore) (Sobena 2004). Firjan and the state government of Rio de Janeiro were involved in the negotiations because the state will offer fiscal incentives for the endeavor which could be underway early next year.

According to the Rio secretary of Energy, Naval Industry and Petroleum, Wagner Victer, the construction of the two ships will involve investments of US$100 million and create 1,500 jobs. "This is a clear demonstration of our state's competitivity in price, as well as our high technological standards," he declared.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
11/10/2004