Port of São Francisco do Sul wins OAS Maritime Award

During Environment Week, the Port of São Francisco do Sul was awarded the 2026 Maritime Award of the Americas, granted by the Organization of American States or OAS.

The port authority won first place in the “Green Initiatives in Ports” category with its project to deepen the access channel in Babitonga Bay.

The award ceremony was held on Monday (8) in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, with Port President Cleverton Vieira attending and speaking at the event.

The project presented by the Santa Catarina port was selected by a committee of experts from among 30 submissions by representatives from 11 countries in the Americas. It was the first time in the award’s 12 editions that a Brazilian public port won first place in the category.

The Maritime Award of the Americas is promoted by the OAS in partnership with organizations linked to the port and maritime sectors across the Americas.

Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello celebrated the international recognition. “This recognition validates a pioneering initiative that we had the courage to put into practice. The results show that we are on the right path, prioritizing economic development together with sustainability and the generation of opportunities and income for the people of Santa Catarina,” he said.

Ivan Amaral, secretary of Ports, Airports and Railways, said the pioneering partnership between the Port of São Francisco do Sul and the private sector for dredging works in Babitonga Bay is gaining international attention.

“This unprecedented international recognition rewards the search for innovative solutions that place Santa Catarina at the forefront of the port sector,” he said.

In his speech, Port President Cleverton Vieira said the award-winning project shows what can be achieved when port authorities, terminal operators and government institutions work together with a shared vision.

“This initiative brings together the expertise and capabilities of the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá. By combining the scale of public infrastructure with the efficiency and agility of the private sector, we developed an innovative and sustainable maritime solution,” he said.

Sustainable dredging

The project recognized by the international organization involves dredging and deepening the access channel to Babitonga Bay. The work began in October 2024, after licensing by Brazil’s environmental agency Ibama. The main difference in the project is how the sediment removed from the seabed is being used.

According to the OAS, the Port of São Francisco do Sul was recognized for promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of port operations through dredging that reuses the dredged material.

In all, 12.5 million cubic meters of sand will be removed. Half of that volume is being used to restore the beach strip in Itapoá along an eight-kilometer stretch.

The beach-widening project is considered the largest ever carried out in Brazil by length. So far, about 70% of the volume planned for beach restoration has been completed.

The dredging and channel-deepening works, which serve the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá, are expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

Environmental recovery

In addition to reusing sediment, the project includes environmental recovery measures along the Itapoá shoreline.

The measures include restoring dunes by planting thousands of native restinga seedlings. Elevated walkways, protective fences and educational signs have also been installed to support vegetation recovery and reduce circulation in sensitive areas.

The actions are intended to strengthen dune protection, support the natural retention of sand and help preserve coastal ecosystems.

About the award

The Maritime Award of the Americas recognizes initiatives that contribute to the modernization of the port sector in the Americas, with a focus on operational efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.

In the 2026 edition, the project developed by the Port of São Francisco do Sul stood out for combining logistics improvements with environmental sustainability measures.

Project overview

First in Brazil: The dredging will allow vessels of up to 366 meters in length to berth, making the Babitonga Bay port complex the first in Brazil able to receive vessels of this size at full load.

Currently, the Babitonga Bay port complex can receive vessels of up to 336 meters, with capacity for 10,000 TEUs. After the works, that capacity will rise to 16,000 TEUs.

Public-private partnership: The R$333 million project was made possible through an unprecedented partnership between the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá. For the first time in Brazil, a public port signed a contract with a private port to carry out a project of this nature. The work will be executed through a partnership between the public Port of São Francisco do Sul, which will contribute R$33 million, and the private Itapoá terminal, which will contribute R$300 million.

The private investment will be reimbursed in installments until 2037, about 11 years after the completion of the works. Itapoá will be reimbursed through additional port tariff revenue generated by the increase in vessel calls and cargo volumes after the channel-deepening project is completed.

Larger vessels: Increasing the channel depth from 14 meters to 16 meters will allow vessels of up to 366 meters in length to berth. With that, Babitonga becomes the first port complex in Brazil able to receive vessels of this size at full load.

Source: Porto de São Francisco do Sul

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