Rio de Janeiro to Import Seven Passenger Ferries from China

Afai Southern Shipyard to Import Passenger Ferries from China

On March 16, 2013, the State of Rio De Janeiro and Afai Southern Shipyard (Panyu Guangzhou) Ltd. signed a purchasing contract of importing a batch of seven full aluminum passenger ferries, of 2000 passengers each, from China.

Governor of the State of Rio De Janeiro Mr. SéRGIO Cabral hosted the ceremony. Mr. Julio Luiz Baptista Lopes (director of State Secretary for Transport) and Mr. Ding Nong (Vice General Manager of China Shipping Group and Chairman of Afai Southern) representing both sides, signed the contract respectively. Governor of the State of Rio De Janeiro Mr. SéRGIO Cabral signed the contract for authentication.

The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Zhu Qingqiao, Charge D”Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Brasil and Minister Counsellor; Ms. Chen Xiaoling, Consul General of China in Rio de Janeiro; and other officials of Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Brasil; Mr. Luiz Fernando De Souza Pezao, Vice Governor of the State of Rio De Janeiro; Mr. Rodrigo Neves, Mayor of Niterói; and other Brasil Officials along with Mr. Ye Xiaojian, General Manager of China Shipping Industry Co. Ltd and Director of Afai Southern.

Mr. SéRGIO Cabral and Mr. Zhu Qingqiao delivered speeches to congratulate on the successful signing of the project, expressing good wishes with regard to the development of bilateral political and economic relationship between China and Brasil.

Mr. Ding Nong, representing Afai Southern and Afai’s shareholders China Shipping Group also delivered a speech, expressing sincere gratitude to the State of Rio De Janeiro and the State Secretary for Transport for trusting Afai Southern. He emphasized Chinese State-owned enterprises’ responsible attitude to customers and society, showing good national image to Brasil government and its people. Mr. Ding Nong said Afai would fully cooperate with the State of Rio De Janeiro to complete this project, so as to promote the development of bilateral political and economic relations of Brasil and China.

In order to solve increasing passenger flow on the public water routes transport and the issue of aging vessels, and to meet the demands of visitors from all over the world coming to Rio De Janeiro during the World Cup in 2014 and Olympic Games in 2016, the State of Rio De Janeiro organised an international public bidding. By closely cooperating with its agent– DPX Management Company Limited and with the first-class product design, excellent construction quality and reasonable price, Afai Southern won the government’s purchasing contract after fierce competition between the same field competitors from 22 countries. This project establishes Afai Southern’s strongly arising status in international aluminum shipbuilding field.

The contract is worth approx. USD 110 million, including design and construction of six vessels with diesel fuel and one vessel with dual fuel capacities (diesel and LNG). These vessels adopt full aluminum welded catamaran type, with length of 78.4m and beam of 14.8m, and the azimuth thruster for propulsion system. According to requirements of the bidding, the ferries shall be made of full aluminum, each with the passenger capacity of not less than 2000, providing at least 1000 seats, designed with two bows and two wheelhouses. The designing speed is not less than 18 knots. After the vessels are put into use, they will greatly improve the safety of this route for public transportation.

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Afai Southern Shipyard, March 18, 2013