Port of Santos resumes operations after 29-hour weather shutdown

During the 24 hours between Wednesday (July 30) and Thursday (July 31), the São Paulo Pilots carried out 53 ship maneuvers to meet the backlog of vessels at the Port of Santos—double the usual daily average. The surge was due to 29 hours of suspended navigation at the Santos quay between Monday and Wednesday, caused by adverse weather and heavy swells that compromised safety.

The Pilots, working alongside ship captains, are responsible for guiding vessels in and out of the Port of Santos. Although their record is 60 maneuvers in a single day, the team states they are prepared to handle up to 80 if necessary.

According to the São Paulo Pilots Association, due to the dynamic nature of the port and the high costs associated with delays, a strategy had to be devised to allow ships ready for departure to leave in quick succession, clearing berths for those waiting to dock.

The president of the Pilots Association, Fábio Mello Fontes, explained that the team has managed to significantly reduce maneuvering times, thereby speeding up the loading and unloading of cargo at the port.

“Santos is a multi-cargo port. Many locals may not realize just how important the Port of Santos is to the global economy—ships from all over the world come and go from here,” said Fontes.

Pilot Carlos Alberto de Souza Filho, the association’s Director of Institutional Affairs, emphasized the importance of returning to normal operations. “Had the situation persisted, the economic losses would have affected not just Santos, but the whole of Brazil, since Santos accounts for 27% to 30% of the country’s foreign trade.”

Source: A Tribuna

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