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On September 25th, the iconic Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro hosted another successful edition of the WSB Advisors Maritime Navigation Seminar, now in its 7th edition. Led by Alexandre Vilela, CEO of WSB Advisors, and Joana Rodrigues, Head of Market Intelligence, the event brought together over 100 guests from the oil, gas, and energy industries, offering an innovative and interactive format. Alexandre and Joana moderated all five seminar panels, adopting a relaxed yet thought-provoking approach, using provocative questions to encourage the panelists to share their views freely and openly.

Opening Focused on Brazil-Norway Relations

The event’s opening featured key industry and diplomatic figures, with a special focus on the growing collaboration between Brazil and Norway. Mai Tonheim, Consul of the Royal Consulate General of Norway in Rio de Janeiro, was the first to speak, highlighting the new cycle of investments from Norwegian companies in Brazil, particularly in the energy transition sector, supported by the Norwegian government’s incentives for related activities.

Following this, Larissa Sigiliano, President of the Norwegian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), emphasized the significant increase in the operations of NBCC member companies in the oil, gas, and energy sectors and their optimistic outlook for continued growth. Camila Mendes Vianna Cardoso, partner at Kincaid | Mendes Vianna Advogados and former president of NBCC, complemented the discussion by recalling years of legal support provided to Norwegian companies entering the Brazilian market, highlighting the ongoing partnership between the two nations.

Closing the opening session, Sérgio Bacci, President of Transpetro, representing Petrobras President Magda Chambriard, spoke about Petrobras’ new vessel procurement cycle, announcing the order of 26 vessels—22 offshore support vessels and 4 cabotage ships. He expressed his expectation that the next orders will further strengthen the Brazilian shipbuilding industry, particularly benefiting national shipyards, which will play a vital role in this new wave of contracts.

In-Depth Panel Discussions

The first panel, moderated by Alexandre Vilela and Joana Rodrigues, focused on the energy transition and featured Roberta Cox from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Anídio Correa from WSB Advisors, Daniel Lamassa from Mingyang, and Federal Deputy Eduardo Pazuello, President of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Parliamentary Front (FREPPEGEN). The debate centered on the need for a stronger regulatory framework for offshore wind energy in Brazil and the challenges in speeding up the environmental licensing process, a topic thoroughly discussed by the panelists.

In the second panel, the discussion turned to the shipbuilding industry and its need for revitalization. Alexandre and Joana moderated the exchange of ideas between João Pacheco, Director of SINAVAL and President of ABEEMAR, Rachid Félix from Valor+, Augusto Vedan from ANTAQ, and Wagner Victer, Advisor at Petrobras. The key takeaway from the panel was the importance of protecting Brazil’s shipbuilding industry and the hope that Petrobras’ new vessel orders will serve as a catalyst for more sustainable and consistent growth in the sector.

The third panel addressed the issue of vessel decommissioning, a growing challenge in Brazil, especially in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Alexandre and Joana led the discussion, which included contributions from Jucélia (Tia Ju), State Deputy and President of the ALERJ Commission of Inquiry on vessels, judicial expert Maurício Almeida, Professor Dr. Augusto Moutella from ELERJ, and Admiral Ilqies Barbosa Junior from the Naval Technology Cluster. The panelists unanimously agreed that Brazil will face an unprecedented industrial challenge in the coming years as the country grapples with the increasing demand for new shipbuilding while also addressing the decommissioning of vessels and offshore units.

The fourth panel shifted focus to human capital in the maritime industry, a critical issue for ensuring the sector’s sustainability. Thiago Valejo from FIRJAN, César Castro from Elcano, José Carlos Elias from Altera Infrastructure, and João Queiroz from Intcom shared their insights into the challenges of developing a skilled workforce for the naval sector, emphasizing the need for stronger partnerships between the industry, educational institutions, and the government to meet the sector’s growing demand for qualified professionals.

Data Analysis and Awards Conclude the Event

The fifth and final panel, also moderated by Alexandre and Joana, provided a detailed analysis of market demand and rate predictions for the Brazilian maritime sector. Genésio Ramos, Daniel Buckley, Raphael Montes, and Joana Rodrigues, all from WSB, presented a comprehensive perspective on the immediate need for over 50 vessels to replace foreign-flagged ships and the trends in charter rates. WSB’s predictive capabilities were one of the key highlights, showing how the company had anticipated critical market movements months before they materialized.

To close the seminar, the prestigious WSB Choice Awards were presented, recognizing the companies and professionals who stood out the most in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, with a special emphasis on maritime operations.

After a day of intense discussions, the NBCC hosted a networking dinner, sponsored by WSB Advisors, at the Copacabana Palace. Now in its 9th edition, the networking event is considered one of the most anticipated during Rio de Janeiro’s Energy Week, attracting leaders and executives from various industry sectors.

With another successful edition, WSB Advisors strengthens its role as a thought leader, facilitating strategic discussions on the future of the maritime and energy sectors in Brazil.

WSB Advisors: Data Matters.