Port of Itajaí asks Portonave for R$25 million to pay dredging debt

Maintenance dredging in the access channel to the Itajaí-Açu Port Complex on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, which provides access to the Port of Itajaí, has been halted for nearly 14 days due to a suspension by the Dutch company Van Oord, responsible for the service.

The suspension stems from an outstanding debt of R$35 million. To resume dredging activities, the Port of Itajaí has requested R$25 million from Portonave in Navegantes.

Fábio da Veiga, superintendent of the Port of Itajaí, participated in meetings in Brasília on Monday, the 12th, and in Itajaí on Wednesday, the 14th, to try to solve the issue but was unable to secure the necessary funds. The terminal’s press office confirmed the information.

The meeting in Itajaí was held between the port’s superintendency and Portonave to discuss the company’s potential financial contribution to the dredging payment. With R$ 25 million from Navegantes, the remaining R$ 10 million would be covered by the Itajaí municipality.

In return, Portonave would receive the repaid amount starting in June 2025, spread over 12 months, as an advance on tariffs.

In a note sent to ND Mais, Portonave indicated that a decision has not yet been made regarding the loan to the Port of Itajaí. The terminal is still in initial talks to help find a way to keep the dredging operation going.

“This solution is not necessarily financial, and any premature disclosure could hinder the company’s senior management’s decision-making process, ” Portonave added.

When contacted, the National Agency for Waterborne Transportation (Antaq) stated that the request is an autonomous initiative by the Port of Itajaí with its dredging service provider.

“It is known that the Port has requested financial assistance from the Ministry of Ports and others who might contribute. Antaq was not involved in these discussions. We are aware that meetings took place, and the Port suggested amounts it deems necessary to resume fulfilling the contract,” the agency noted in its statement.

The chart below compares container exports and imports at the Port of Itajaí from January 2019 and December 2022, the period in which container operations began to dwindle at the port. The data is from DataLiner.

Container exports and imports | Port of Itajaí | Jan 2019 – Dec 2022 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The Port of Itajaí is relying on the Federal Government

The Itajaí Port Authority is waiting for a R$ 50 million transfer from the Federal Government to settle the debt, which has yet to be paid due to the election period.

Beyond ensuring the safety of larger vessels transiting through the Port Complex, the operation is crucial for restoring the channel’s depth to up to 14 meters. This measure also allows the large rainwater flowing down from the Itajaí Valley to dissipate more quickly.

According to the port’s press office, the suction dredger is under maintenance, which is why dredging activities have been paused. ND Mais reached out to Van Oord, but the company did not offer a comment by the time of publication.

In a statement to the portal, Antaq’s press office said the company had not notified them about the service suspension and emphasized that “they are currently conducting the necessary inspections to ensure full compliance with the contract, making sure all clauses are strictly observed.”

Source: ND Mais

Click here to access the original text: https://ndmais.com.br/economia/porto-de-itajai-pede-r-25-milhoes-a-portonave-para-pagar-divida-de-dragagem/

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