Bidding Process for Santos-Guarujá Immersed Tunnel to Be Overseen by Joint Commission

The bidding process for the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel will be led by a joint commission formed by representatives from the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), the São Paulo State Government, the National Waterborne Transport Agency (Antaq), the São Paulo State Transport Agency (Artesp), the Santos Port Authority (SPA), and the Special Secretariat for the Investment Partnerships Program (PPI). The auction is slated for late 2025.

“This structure ensures collaboration among government organizations and stakeholders, given the complexity and importance of the project. Antaq will oversee the auction, while other agencies will provide associated technical and operational guidance,” MPor stated in a press release.

The ministry added that a preliminary commission has already been formed and will be formalized once each participating body nominates its representatives. “This initiative aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in the bidding process.”

The National Secretariat for Ports (SNP) will chair the commission. According to Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (SPA), the commission’s goal is “to monitor and expedite the procedural steps for the Santos-Guarujá tunnel concession.”

As one of Brazil’s most significant infrastructure projects, the dry connection between Santos and Guarujá has been included in São Paulo’s State Investment Partnerships Program (PPI-SP), paving the way for a public-private partnership (PPP) to sponsor the concession. The project is also part of the Federal Government’s Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).

The estimated investment for the tunnel is approximately R$ 5.54 billion, funded by federal, state, and private sector contributions. Of this total, 86% will come from public funds, evenly split between the Federal and São Paulo State Governments.

Immersed Tunnel to Be Installed 21 Meters Deep

According to MPor, the immersed section of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel will be installed at a depth of 21 meters, spanning 870 meters in length. This design allows for dredging up to 20 meters, accommodating vessels with deeper drafts and enabling larger ships to enter the Port of Santos, even across all tidal variations.

“The depth was determined following technical surveys involving Minister Silvio Costa Filho, Antaq, the State Government, and SPA. Initial project plans had proposed a depth of 18 meters, which would have limited dredging to around 17 meters,” MPor noted.

However, SPA President Anderson Pomini stated that ongoing technical studies are exploring reducing the tunnel’s depth from 21 meters to lower construction costs.

“The original 2014 design and updated studies decided to maintain the 21-meter depth due to the canal’s planned deepening to 17 meters,” Pomini explained.

MPor also highlighted that the navigation channel at the Port of Santos currently has a depth of 15 meters. “Dredging operations in 2025 will increase this to 16 meters, improving navigability and service levels at the port,” the ministry added.

Canal Concession Details

Regarding the canal’s concession, MPor confirmed that the process “is underway, with public hearings scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.”

The canal will be concessioned for 25 years through a public-private partnership (PPP), ensuring both maintenance and deepening dredging activities to enable the Port of Santos to accommodate larger vessels in the future.

Source: A Tribuna

Click here to access the original report: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/tunel-com-valor-bilionario-no-litoral-de-s-o-paulo-tera-licitac-o-lancada-por-comiss-o-mista-veja-detalhes-1.443761

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