Event to sign Paranaguá port access channel concession contract canceled

An event scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, to sign the concession contract for the access channel serving the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina has been canceled, according to the Paraná state port authority Portos do Paraná. A new date has not yet been announced.

The agreement, which would be signed by the Paraná state government and Brazil’s federal government, concerns the concession of the waterway access channel to the port complex. The project is the first concession of its kind in Brazil.

The concession attracted a 276 million reais ($55 million) upfront concession fee and is expected to secure more than 1.2 billion reais in investments over the first five years for expansion, maintenance and operation of the navigation channel.

The auction, held in October last year at the B3 stock exchange in São Paulo, was formally approved on Dec. 4. The winning bidder was the Canal Galheta Dragagem Consortium (CCGD), formed by FTS Participações Societárias, Deme Concessions NV and Deme Dredging NV, which will operate the concession for 25 years.

Before the award was finalized, the tender process underwent technical review by Brazil’s National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Once the contract is signed, the concessionaire must submit the implementation plan. After approval, it will be authorized to begin work. During the first two years, the consortium will be required to carry out bathymetric surveys — mapping the channel floor — and hydrographic studies, including environmental, engineering and navigation assessments.

Planned improvements

The project’s financial and operational model includes strict oversight rules. Planned upgrades include widening, rock removal and deepening works to reach the targeted draft.

Maintenance dredging will also be carried out to ensure safe navigation, along with the installation of a signaling system.

By the end of the first five years of the concession, the operator must deepen the channel to allow an operational draft of 15.5 meters. The current draft is about 13.3 meters.

The increase of more than two meters would significantly expand vessel loading capacity, allowing ships to carry up to 1,000 additional containers or about 14,000 extra tonnes of solid vegetable bulk cargo per voyage.

The concessionaire will charge an infrastructure usage tariff to vessels calling at the ports.

Source: A Tribuna

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