APS Takes Over Management of Port of Itajaí

The Port Authority of Santos (APS) has assumed the management of the Port of Itajaí in Santa Catarina. This arrangement is set for one year, although the Port of Itajaí’s Superintendency (SPI) will continue providing administrative and operational services, keeping its 74 employees. During a meeting in the city, the two port authorities signed an agreement and formed a transition committee.

In a statement, APS informed that its directors—Beto Mendes (Operations), Gustavo Salvador Pereira (Business Development and Regulation), and Júlio Cézar Alves de Oliveira (Administration and Finance)—met with union leaders and Itajaí’s mayor, Robison Coelho (PL), to address workers’ demands and municipal matters.

Regarding dredging, one of the port’s priority services, Itajaí’s maintenance contract, is secured until 2026 and will now fall under APS’s responsibility. APS will collect the port’s tariff revenues, though they will be separately accounted for from those of Santos. Any future financial investments and necessary works will be decided in the coming days.

Background

The transfer of the Port of Itajaí’s management to APS was announced on December 17 by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), which aims to “ensure the continuity of port operations” and “boost job and income generation” through the move.

The port in Santa Catarina halted operations in 2022 following the departure of APM Terminals, which had operated in Itajaí for 22 years, amidst the federal government’s plan to privatize the complex. In December 2023, a temporary contract was signed, allowing for the resumption of operations.

Container operations have resumed in the Itajaí Port only in the second half of 2024. Check out the container export operations at the Port of Itajaí from January to November, starting in 2021.

Container Exports | Itajaí Port | Jan-Nov 2021 through Jan-Nov 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Legal Dispute

The management change faced a legal challenge at the end of 2024. On December 24, the president of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), Herman Benjamin, suspended a decision by the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) that had prevented APS from taking over the Port of Itajaí.

The push to extend the delegation for another 12 months and block APS from managing the port was initiated by the Association Foro Metropolitano da Foz do Rio Itajaí-Açu, which opposed the federalization and transfer of management to the federal government.

Source: A Tribuna

Click here to read the original article: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/aps-assume-gest-o-do-porto-de-itajai-1.446316

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