Port of São Francisco do Sul Secures ISPS Code Certification

The Port Security Plan for the Port of São Francisco do Sul has been approved by the National Commission for Public Security in Ports, Terminals, and Waterways (Conportos).

As a result, the commission issued the Declaration of Compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which was published in the Federal Gazette this week.

The declaration is an internationally recognized certification granted by the federal government, confirming that the port meets all security requirements for access control and facility monitoring.

To regain certification—revoked in 2021—the Port of São Francisco invested R$ 25 million over the past two years in what stands as the largest information security upgrade in its history.

One of the key modernization projects was the implementation of a new access control and monitoring system at the Grain Terminal, which primarily handles soybean and corn storage.

The terminal is now equipped with 12 cameras utilizing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to scan truck license plates and identify each railcar transporting cargo to the port. The system provides real-time data to Brazilian Customs, ensuring seamless cargo tracking. Access control at the Grain Terminal was also upgraded with four new biometric scanners for truck drivers and automated gate operations.

Additionally, 111 new cameras were installed to enhance the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system. In 2024, major investments were also made in Information Technology, including the acquisition of two storage units for image archiving and ten new servers.

Back in 2023, the port had already streamlined truck traffic by opening a new access point equipped with three weighbridges.

According to Port President Cleverton Vieira, the five-year certification underscores the terminal’s commitment to port security.

“These past two years have been dedicated to extensive modernization efforts in information technology and multi-million-dollar infrastructure investments to transform São Francisco into a port of excellence, fully aligned with international standards.”

Security Manager Pablo da Silva, who spearheaded the certification process, outlined the steps required to obtain the Declaration of Compliance.

“First, the port conducted a Risk Assessment Study (EAR), which was submitted for approval to the State Commission for Public Security in Ports, Terminals, and Waterways (Cesportos).”

Once validated, the Port Security Plan (PSP) was developed and subsequently approved by Cesportos.

“This certification is comparable to ISO accreditations that companies receive—quality certifications based on international standards,” Silva explained, adding that the Port of São Francisco do Sul is also ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.

Sharing is caring!