Releases

Our Expertise Will Be Applied to the Araguaia Nickel Project, Horizonte Minerals’ Largest Greenfield Investment in Brazil The excellence of Solution 4.0 has been established through our partner Pöyry, part of the AFRY Group, which has signed a contract with HMSWeb Tecnologia da Informação to work on a landmark venture in the mining industry: the Araguaia Nickel project. This project, located in Conceição do Araguaia (PA), is the largest greenfield nickel investment in Brazil by the British company Horizonte Minerals (HZM). “The Araguaia Nickel project from Horizonte Minerals represents a new chapter in the partnership between HMSWeb and Pöyry. Previously, our corporate contract with Pöyry covered projects in the pulp and paper sector in Brazil. Due to the success of our past collaborations, which expanded into the AFRY Group (Sweden), Pöyry has now adopted HMSWeb© (Handover Management System) for the Araguaia Project,” says Luciano Gaete, CEO of HMSWeb and IT Director at Forship Group. Differential that creates opportunities “The HMSWeb© represented a differential for Pöyry together with the final customer, the Horizonte Minerals, once we have a robust portfolio of mining projects and know-how on this industry, already incorporated to our solution”, adds Gaete. In the executive perspective, in addition to further consolidate this partnership, it represents an opportunity to show the HMSWeb© potential to Horizonte Minerals, which has ventures in several countries. “Possibly, throughout this project, we may join other HZM international assets”, Gaete mentions, who also expects the adoption of HMSWeb© by Pöyry, in a corporate manner, in international projects. Pöyry/AFRY already uses the HMSWeb and is happy with our actuation in Smelter Complex, under its responsibility in Sweden”, he says. Customized solution “HMSWeb© has been a key differentiator for Pöyry with our client, Horizonte Minerals. Our robust portfolio of mining projects and industry expertise, already integrated into our solution, has been pivotal,” adds Gaete. From the executive’s perspective, this opportunity not only solidifies the partnership but also showcases HMSWeb©’s potential to Horizonte Minerals, which has projects across various countries. “Through this project, we may potentially engage with other HZM international assets,” Gaete notes. He also anticipates that Pöyry will adopt HMSWeb© corporately for international projects. “Pöyry/AFRY already uses HMSWeb and is satisfied with our involvement in the Smelter Complex under its management in Sweden,” he concludes. Project Araguaia Níquel Horizonte Minerals, which is developing the Araguaia Project in southeastern Pará, is also active in Brazil with the Vermelho Project, focused on nickel and cobalt, located in Canaã dos Carajás and currently in the feasibility study phase. The Araguaia mine, with a projected service life of 28 years, aims to produce 14,500 tons of ferronickel annually to supply the stainless steel market. Additionally, a Feasibility Study for Line 2 could potentially double production to 29,000 tons per year and extend the mine’s operational life by another 25 years. As of July, more than 65% of the construction work has been completed, and the first metal is expected in the first quarter of 2024. This expansion will enhance the production of a metal crucial for the clean energy transition, which is experiencing increased demand due to the established stainless steel market and the burgeoning battery market for electric vehicles. Nickel is a key metal in the transition to clean energy and has shown rising demand, driven by both the stainless steel industry and the growing electric vehicle battery market. Through these projects in Brazil, Horizonte Minerals aims to position itself as a major nickel producer, with a combined annual production target exceeding 60,000 tons of nickel.

The ISO 27001 series certification confirms the all-round excellence of Forship Engenharia and HMSWeb Tecnologia da Informação.  The commitment of the Forship Group teams was decisive for the first certification in Information Security (IS) of Forship Engenharia and HMSWeb Tecnologia da Informação. The companies already had the ISO certification series 9001 (Quality Management), 14001 (Environmental Management) and 45001 (Occupational Safety Management). “We are always looking for absolute excellence in all our activities and operations. That is why we sought this certification”, says the president and CEO of the Forship Group, Fabio Fares. ”It took six months of hard work that resulted in both companies being certified in the 27001 series (Information Security) with the 27701 (Privacy) and 27018 (data privacy in cloud computing) extensions. We are one of the first Brazilian companies to achieve certification in the most recent version, from 2022, which contains a modernization of several controls and concepts”, celebrates Luciano Gaete, CEO of HMSWeb and IT director of the Forship Group. The executive highlights that the certification is extremely significant, particularly technically, but also for business and the image of the Forship Group. “It was imperative that our processes, procedures and information systems were reviewed from the perspective of information security, protection and privacy of personal data and corporate data, including certifying our compliance system with the LGPD (”Brazilian General Data Protection Law“),” adds Gaete. METICULOUS WORK According to him, over the course of approximately six months the team from both companies carried out a thorough analysis of information assets, internal and external threats and vulnerabilities.  “We mapped hundreds of actions to mitigate or eliminate such risks, thus raising the Forship Group’s level in these areas as well”, he points out. He states that, from a commercial point of view, the level of demand from customers is increasing in terms of the confidentiality of the information handled, in addition, of course, to its availability and integrity. On top of this, there are the privacy requirements of the LGPD.  “In this sense, the new certifications are already giving us and our customers the assurance that we treat the data to which we have access and which we store in our systems very seriously and professionally, improving, for example, our image and reputation in the market, not to mention a better score in vendor lists, explains the executive. CHALLENGE OVERCOME Luciano Gaete points out that the great challenge was to cross reference the enormous amount of information assets with internal and external threats, analyzing and implementing, case by case, the best mitigation, elimination or even acceptance action, as the case may be. “Another big challenge is everyone’s training and awareness! The most important point in IS, contrary to what it may seem at first, are not the IT systems and tools, but us, the users!”  The big challenge now, according to the two executives, is not to let one’s guard down, to maintain focus and constant concern with IS, incorporating IS practices into the company’s culture and day-to-day activities, in all areas of activity, following the procedures of our brand new ISMS (Information Security Management System), maintaining a continuous evolution of the system, according to the needs of the Forship Group and customers.

Forship has secured its third contract with Petrobras for providing services to offshore rigs in shallow waters near Aracaju (SE), marking over five consecutive years of service to Petrobras. “We will continue to provide cargo handling, maintenance of marine cranes, mechanical equipment, instrumentation, and electrical systems for offshore production rigs under this new six-month contract. This extension signifies our achievement of over five years of continuous service to UO-SEAL,” says Hudson Azevedo, Project Manager at Forship Group. The shallow water rigs in Sergipe are currently being decommissioned, with PCM-9 being the primary offshore production facility in the Camorim field and the only inhabited rig among the ten in the area. “This new contract is a testament to the quality of services provided by Forship Group. We view our role in this decommissioning process as a significant contribution,” adds Marco A. Kronemberger, Operations Director at Forship Group.

Accidents and deaths in traffic are still an alarming reality in Brazil. According to data by the Ministry of Health, there are around 40,000 road traffic deaths per year. Furthermore, many people suffer severe or permanent injury in road traffic accidents, impacting not only their lives, but also those of their families and society as a whole. Safe road traffic behaviors must be adopted, such as respecting the speed limits, not driving under the effect of alcohol or drugs, using the seatbelt, complying with traffic laws and being aware of the conditions of the road. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that road traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility, including not only the drivers, but also pedestrians, bicyclists and bikers. Respecting traffic laws and adopting safe behaviors when using public roads are essential in order to avoid accidents and deaths. It is important that everyone is responsible and adopts safer road traffic behaviors, aiming to reduce the number of accidents and deaths in public roads. Click here and watch a video to learn more. 

As we prepare to embark on a roadshow across several Asian countries, where we have clients, partners, and Forship Group teams working on regional projects, we must reflect on the factors that have led us to this international journey. One of Forship Group’s greatest assets is its human capital. We have a multidisciplinary team working on projects across various sectors, bringing together knowledge and experience. They form the critical mass that has allowed Forship Group to reach greater heights over more than two decades of operations, establishing a Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) culture that is recognized by our partners and clients. It is only fitting to highlight this in this edition of Inforship, which encompasses two special dates: World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28) and Labor Day (May 1). This human asset, spanning from the grassroots to senior management—because we are all ‘collaborators’—is driven by values and ethical principles that have guided Forship Group since its inception a quarter-century ago. Getting here hasn’t been easy, and we know there are many challenges still ahead. Today, we can see new horizons. Asia is one of them, and there are more on the horizon. Together, we can always achieve more! Fabio Fares President and CEO of Forship Group

Forship Group has been awarded a significant contract for the commissioning of the second phase of the Serra do Salitre Mining-Industrial Complex, which is expected to account for 15% of Brazil’s phosphate fertilizer production by 2024. The contract, spanning 14 months, involves planning, managing, and executing the commissioning services, as well as providing support for the assisted operation of the phase-two project of this venture. Salitre Fertilizers, a subsidiary of the Swiss group EuroChem Mineral & Chemical, acquired the Serra do Salitre Mining-Industrial Complex (CMISS) in 2021. “We are committed to meeting the client’s expectations by significantly contributing to the implementation of a commissioning work methodology through the use of our management tool, HMSWeb© (Handover Management System),” states Marco A. Kronemberger, Operations Director at Forship Group. He adds that, due to the specific nature of the fertilizer plant, certain equipment will necessitate a deeper dive into engineering and manufacturer documentation to fully understand the start-up procedures, and may require involving specialist professionals in the commissioning process. Another challenge highlighted is ensuring the engagement of all stakeholders in using HMSWeb© and adhering to the commissioning plan. “To address this, we are organizing meetings and workshops to present our work methodology,” he notes. The contract with HMSWeb Information Technology, a subsidiary of Forship Group, follows the standard model for licensing and related services, including setup, training, and support of HMSWeb©. Strategic Project The Serra do Salitre Complex, which began construction in the second half of 2022, will contribute 15% of Brazil’s phosphate fertilizer production—adding 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) to the market and reducing external dependence. This project is a key part of EuroChem’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Latin America. “Strategically, this is a significant opportunity for us to showcase our commissioning solutions and to potentially engage in other EuroChem projects,” concludes Marco A. Kronemberger.

 O Grupo Forship e a SafeEx ampliam parceria que oferece um pacote completo para os mercados em que atuam A parceria entre o Grupo Forship e a dinamarquesa SafeEx avança mais um passo: a ferramenta SafeEx Cloud está para ser implantada como um piloto em um dos projetos em curso executados pela Forship Engenharia. “E A SafeEx já tem no radar uma oportunidade para o HMSWeb no seu mercado, na Europa”, pontua o CEO da HMSWeb  Tecnologia da Informação, Luciano Gaete. Forship Group and SafeEx Expand Partnership, Offering a Comprehensive Package for Their Markets The partnership between Forship Group and the Danish company SafeEx has taken a significant step forward: the SafeEx Cloud tool will be piloted in one of Forship Engenharia’s projects. “Moreover, SafeEx is already identifying opportunities for HMSWeb in its European market,” notes Luciano Gaete, CEO of HMSWeb Tecnologia da Informação. Gaete adds that the partnership has been formalized with a contract extension that extends their collaboration until 2025. “This expansion is a result of our mutual understanding of each other’s solutions, which has deepened over the past months, and the opportunities that are emerging for both parties,” he says. The two companies formed this partnership because their expertise complements each other, enabling them to offer a complete portfolio of solutions, ranging from quality inspections related to construction and assembly, through mechanical completion and commissioning, to the management of operations concerning asset inspection and maintenance. “SafeEx is offering HMSWeb© software and specialized commissioning services from Forship Group to the European market, while assuming local implementation services. Forship Group will act as the distributor of SafeEx software in Brazil and Latin America. We are the sole partner of SafeEx in the country,” concludes Gaete.

Vale’s project portfolio, which has a corporate contract for using HMSWeb© as a commissioning management tool, continues to grow. Two new projects for licensing and related services, including configuration, training, and support for HMSWeb, have been secured. In Brazil, we will be involved in the retrofit project for the Usina01 iron ore beneficiation plant in the Grande Carajás Project, Pará. “The rollout of HMSWeb will address the commissioning needs of this capital project, which aims to change the production process to 100% natural moisture and increase the installed capacity to 85 MTPA,” explains HMSWeb CEO Luciano Gaete The other contract, with the same scope, relates to the expansion project for Vale’s nickel mine in Thompson, Manitoba, marking our third project in Canada.