APS president confirms to the minister the availability of funds for the Santos–Guarujá tunnel project

The Minister of Ports and Airports (MPor), Silvio Costa Filho, and the president of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, signed an agreement this Thursday (19) and laid the cornerstone for the construction of a new Federal Police (PF) headquarters at the entrance to the navigation channel of the Port of Santos. The facility will be built on a 5,800 m² site at Praça Almirante Gago Coutinho, next to the Convention Center and the Public Fishing Terminal. The building will have ten floors, with an estimated investment of R$58 million and completion scheduled for 2029.

The Federal Police’s regional superintendent in São Paulo, Rodrigo Luis Sanfurgo de Carvalho, thanked President Pomini, the minister, and the port community for the initiative. Pomini highlighted the partners involved: Lanchas Fabiana, the Labor Management Body (OGMO), the Brazilian Association of Terminals and Customs Facilities (Abtra), the Santos Commercial Association, the Union of Port Operators of the State of São Paulo, and the Internal Railway Management Association of the Port of Santos (AG-Fips). AG-Fips will provide significant financial contributions as part of contractual obligations for port infrastructure investments. APS waived the concession fee from Fips, considering a new PF headquarters strategic for the port.

According to Costa Filho, the new structure is key to combating transnational crime and protecting maritime borders. “As the largest port facility in Latin America, the Port of Santos faces complex challenges such as international drug trafficking, smuggling, and other forms of organized crime. Addressing this scenario requires robust infrastructure and expanded operational capacity, which the new Federal Police headquarters will provide,” he said.

Funds for the tunnel

The ceremony also confirmed that APS has R$2.6 billion available in its accounts to fund its share of the Santos–Guarujá tunnel project, a long-awaited project in the region. A document confirming the exact amount, backed by Banco do Brasil, was presented to Minister Silvio Costa Filho. The remaining half, of equal value, is expected to be funded by the São Paulo State Government, under a partnership between the two entities.

APS president Pomini said he sought guidance from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), which oversees the authority, on how to proceed with transferring the funds to the state government without guarantees. “As we did not have access to the contract, we turned to the TCU. We were advised that the State Government and APS must formalize governance measures to ensure oversight of federal public funds to be used in the project. Without such guarantees, we cannot simply release taxpayers’ money. These joint measures will be implemented shortly and will not affect the construction schedule,” he concluded.

New berths

The minister and the APS president also announced the construction of two new public berths in Alemoa, which will increase the Port of Santos’ liquid bulk capacity by up to 5 million tonnes, raising the number of specialized berths from nine to eleven. This does not include two additional berths that Petrobras will build at its adjacent terminal. Investments in the Alemoa liquid bulk sector are being carried out by Ultracargo Logística, Vopak Brasil, Stolthaven Santos, and Granel Química.

See below a historical overview of long-haul container throughput via the Port of Santos starting from January 2022. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data and does not include cabotage, transshipment, or other internal movements:

Long-haul container throughput via the Port of Santos | Jan 2022 to Jan 2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Perimetral road in Guarujá

Silvio Costa Filho and Anderson Pomini also announced the completion of the basic design for the Left Bank Perimetral Avenue in Guarujá. The new road will include seven kilometers of roadway and two kilometers of new viaducts.

The project will allow heavy vehicle traffic to be separated from urban traffic. It includes adjustments to the routes of Santos Dumont and Perimetral avenues, new sidewalks and bike lanes, implementation of road connections, as well as hydraulic and electrical upgrades and road signage.

The project includes the construction of a viaduct over the Cônego Domênico Rangoni Highway (SP-55), linking port terminals directly to SP-55 toward São Paulo, eliminating heavy traffic from urban roads in Vicente de Carvalho. It also includes a viaduct on Santos Dumont Avenue over the Perimetral and another providing access to the Conceiçãozinha neighborhood.

The project, part of the federal government’s Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), addresses a long-standing demand from the port community and will include funding from private terminals TGG and Termag. The formalization of this partnership is under review by Antaq. Guarujá mayor Farid Madi thanked the federal government, the minister, APS leadership, and all authorities involved.

Tecon 10

Regarding Tecon Santos 10, the minister and APS president said they are awaiting a decision from oversight bodies so the terminal—anticipated for 13 years—can be auctioned and begin operations, placing the Port of Santos among the 20 largest in the world.

As he concludes his tenure at MPor, Silvio Costa Filho was honored by APS leadership and directors for his contributions to the Santos port community and Brazil’s broader port sector. He was also applauded by private operators present at the event.

Federal deputy Paulo Alexandre Barbosa highlighted investments in Ponta da Praia and said the new Federal Police building will benefit both local residents and the Port of Santos. State deputy Paulo Correa praised the authorities and said that, as a resident of the area, he is pleased with the new development.

Also attending the event were the São Paulo Ports captain, Leandro Gomes Mendes; Vice Admiral Marco Antonio Linhares Soares, commander of the 8th Naval District of the Brazilian Navy; APS Board Chairman Carlos Henrique Martins de Lima; APS directors Gustavo Pereira (Business Development and Regulation), Júlio Cézar de Oliveira (Administration and Finance), and Orlando Razões (Infrastructure), as well as superintendents, managers, port guard personnel, and dozens of company staff.

Source: APS

Sharing is caring!