Brazil's Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS) shipyard has signed letters of intent for vital new ship orders that would keep it operational for another two years.
CEO Harro Burman said one agreement has been reached with Maersk's Alianca for two boxships, according to the Valor Economico daily.
The other company was not named, but Burman said it was a Brazilian company interested in ordering two ships for coastal trade.
The deals depend on funding from the Merchant Marine Fund and a state guarantee for up to 80% of a short-term loan from Credit Suisse.
EAS' restructuring shareholders Queiroz Galvao and Camargo Correa would have to guarantee the rest.
At the end of 2017, EAS had BRL 1.9bn ($469m) in debt, of which more than BRL 500m is due in the short term. Cash stood at BRL 103.5m.
Final contracts could be signed in November.
Maersk Line told TradeWinds it could not confirm the deal.
Burman also said a deal for five tankers lined up in 2016 could still go ahead.
TradeWinds reported that this agreement was with Idan Ofer-led Eastern Pacific's South American Tanker Co Navegacao (Satco) for suezmaxes.
The company was also said to be contracting eight MRs that appeared to be the same eight hulls that Transpetro cancelled earlier in 2016.
EAS' only current order is for three afrmaxes for Petrobras.
