Port of Ilheus refurbishment kickstarts new operations cycle in southern Bahia

The state-owned port authority CODEBA planned, contracted, and executed, between 2020 and 2022, the Refurbishment Project of the Organized Port of Ilheus, located in southern Bahia. The package of renovation and maintenance works was entirely funded with CODEBA’s own resources. Total investments amount to BRL 28 million.

Maintenance dredging increased the operational capacity of the port. Around BRL 15 million were disbursed to restore the operational draft back to 10 meters, increasing the cargo capacity of the ships that visit the port by around 50%. In addition, the whole network of river drainage systems was replaced. The underwater inspection required to construct a new pier was also concluded. The port’s jetty was also renovated, guaranteeing shelter conditions and reinforcing the safety of operations.

The set of works agreed upon also foresees the installation of a second road scale capable of weighing bi-train trailers at the Organized Port of Ilheus to reduce bottlenecks during operations. The work should cost BRL 630 thousand.

At the end of November, CODEBA launched the project for renovating the lighting system of the southern Bahia port in accordance with the Federal Government’s Regulatory Norm 29, which established the modernization for lighting in public roads and operational areas. The revitalization also guarantees, through the implementation of LED bulbs, savings in electricity consumption.

This initiative involved BRL 1.4 million in investments and is in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 – Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as well as the goals established by the Environmental Management Program (PGA) of the Port of Ilhéus. The plan for improving security in the port area also included expanding and reinforcing the surveillance and access system with the acquisition of new electronic cameras.

In line with ESG precepts, the construction of the new Waste Center concluded to house the temporary storage of solid waste. In addition, the Port of Ilheus has periodic environmental monitoring actions (atmospheric, noise, water, sediments, and aquatic biota).

In alignment with business development actions, the refurbishing works produce effects on commercial operations. The port handles solid vegetable bulk, mineral solid bulk, and general cargo (wood and project cargo). From January 2020 to October 2022, more than 1 million tonnes of products passed through Ilheus. From 2020 to 2021, the volume of freight traded doubled.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, raw wood exports to Europe resumed. Between October 2021 and February 2022, the port terminal in southern Bahia shipped more than 91 thousand tonnes of the commodity to the Port of Aveiro in Portugal.

On top of that, Ilheus stands out in the tourism sector of the economy. The expectation towards the passage of cruises grows as safety at the port improves. During the 2018/2019 season, the Ports of Salvador and Ilhéus received 57 ships and approximately 181,000 passengers. Around 110 cruise moorings are planned for these two maritime terminals in the 2022/2023 season.

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