PANAMA CITY -- The Eastern Shipbuilding Group launched Bravante IX on Thursday.
The Bravante IX is the fifth and final platform supply vessel ordered from Eastern Shipbuilding Company by Boldini S.A, a Brazilian company.
The construction of these vessels was made possible in part by a $241 million Maritime Administration (MARAD) Title XI loan guarantee, which provides full faith and credit loans to construct vessels in U.S. shipyards.
Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen attended the launching ceremony and also toured upgrades to Eastern Shipbuilding facilities funded by two MARAD Small Shipyard grants, totaling $3.4 million.