This is Sarens' first offshore wind agreement in the country, although the company has been active in other sectors since 2008.
The three parties will evaluate the best logistical solutions for moving turbines, blades and other components needed for the construction of offshore wind farms, making Brazil one of the world's leading hubs in this industry.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prumo Logística and the Port of Açu whereby the parties undertake to study new solutions to facilitate logistical manoeuvres and the transport of materials for the construction of offshore wind farms in the port and industrial complex of São João da Barra, located in the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
This agreement, coinciding with the visit of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium to the Belgian economic mission in Brazil, is the first one signed by Sarens for the development of offshore wind projects in the country, although it has been working in other industrial sectors since 2008. It will assess which logistics solutions are best suited for the transfer of turbines, blades and other materials used for the construction of offshore wind farms using special heavy lifting, designed transport and crane operation services.
Currently, Brazil already has an offshore potential of more than 1,200 GW, of which 480 GW is through fixed foundations and 748 GW through floating foundations, according to a study carried out by independent consultancy DNV on behalf of the World Bank Group. This same study cites the abundance of resources and their location close to major demand points as some of the keys to the growth in importance of offshore wind energy, which could lead to a growth of 96 GW of capacity by 2050, representing approximately 20% of the entire energy mix.
According to Carl Sarens, Technical Solutions, Projects and Engineering Director, “we are excited to embark on this new chapter in Brazil’s offshore wind industry through our partnership with Prumo Logística and the Port of Açu. This agreement represents a significant step toward developing innovative logistics solutions tailored for the offshore wind sector. Sarens is proud to bring our global expertise in heavy lifting and transport to support Brazil’s renewable energy ambitions and help position the Port of Açu as a hub for the offshore wind value chain."
Through this agreement, the port of Açu is expected to become a key hub to support the consolidation of the offshore wind industry in Brazil. This port and industrial complex is located near one of the points with the greatest potential for the development of offshore wind projects in the country, is connected to the National Interconnected System (SIN), and can benefit from the synergies already existing with other industries, such as the oil & gas one.
In addition, this port will become a reference in terms of manufacturing and assembly of the elements necessary for the construction of offshore wind farms, thus attracting manufacturers of turbines, blades or cables, among others. According to Mauro Andrade, Executive Director of Business Development at Prumo, "we want to combine integrated logistics and be an operational and maintenance hub with more competitive costs for the offshore wind industry in Brazil".
Sarens has been a proud contributor to Brazil’s growth since 2008, with a strong presence in the country’s industrial sectors. Our personnel, equipment, and solutions—such as the 2000 tons capacity Tadano PC9600, which has been stationed at Porto do Açu since 2014—have supported the development of Brazilian ports and shipyards, helping them play a vital role in both regional and global markets.
Sarens has also worked with Arcelor Mittal on the renovation of its blast furnace in Vitoria, using its Sarens Multi Lifting Tower (SMLT) equipped with strand jacks, or with Eneval in Rio de Janeiro, where it was responsible for the assembly of FPSO modules using lifting gantries, strand jacks and 32 axle lines SPMTs (self-propelled modular transports) among others. More recently, Sarens has collaborated with SBM Offshore in the installation of Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units in Angra dos Reis.
Looking ahead, Sarens is excited to build on these partnerships and continue to play a significant role in Brazil’s energy transition—whether in offshore wind or hydrogen initiatives
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world's largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today's heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/