Brazil issues tender for maintenance dredging on Madeira River waterway

Brazil’s federal government has issued a public tender to hire a specialised company to carry out the Annual Inland Waterway Maintenance Dredging Plan on the Madeira River waterway, one of the main logistics corridors in the country’s northern region. The project is part of investments under the New Growth Acceleration Programme (Novo PAC) and is coordinated by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, with technical execution by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT).

The initiative aims to strengthen inland navigation by ensuring better year-round navigability, improving the safety of waterborne transport operations and enhancing logistics for supplying the northern region.

According to Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho, keeping waterways operational in northern Brazil is essential to ensuring that cities, communities and local economies remain connected. He said the measures help prevent isolation, secure the transport of goods and services and create opportunities for those who live and work along the banks of the Madeira River, contributing to more balanced development and improved quality of life.

Bid submissions are scheduled to open on January 15, 2026, at 3:00 pm, exclusively through the federal government’s electronic procurement platform.

Planned works include dredging services along strategic stretches of the waterway, particularly in the Porto Velho area of Rondônia state. The scope covers sections such as the Canal dos Anjos cut and the stretch between the BR-230 highway and the mouth of the Madeira River. These areas are considered critical to keeping the river navigable and ensuring the transport of essential cargoes, including food, fuel and basic supplies for riverside communities and Amazonian cities.

Maintenance dredging is also required to prevent sediment build-up on the riverbed, which can hinder navigation. With the works in place, vessels are expected to operate more regularly throughout the year, reducing operational risks, improving schedule predictability and helping to lower logistics costs.

The government expects the initiative to support regional economic development and improve living conditions for populations that rely on the Madeira River as their main route for access and transportation.

Source: Portal Portuário

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