Brazil launches public consultation on sustainable vessel regulation

The Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) presented, on the 11th, during COP30, the public consultation for the Sustainable Vessels Directive, within the scope of the BR do Mar Program. The event marked the ministry’s participation in the conference and was followed by the panel “Green and Innovation Corridors: sustainable connections for the future,” both held at the Brazil Pavilion in the Blue Zone in Belém (PA).

Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC), the directive establishes environmental, social, and energy-efficiency criteria for the classification of sustainable vessels, with the aim of encouraging the use of clean fuels, low-carbon technologies, and good labor practices in the maritime sector. The measure also creates the Sustainable Vessel Requirements Assessment Matrix (M.A.R.E.S.), which will serve as the basis for voluntary certification of vessels that meet the standards set by the regulation.

Among the parameters included are the use of ethanol, B24 biodiesel, HVO, green methanol, bio-LNG, ammonia, and green hydrogen, as well as energy-efficiency indicators (EEXI, EEDI, and CII) and the adoption of efficiency plans (SEEMP). Certified vessels will receive priority in chartering processes and public recognition for adopting advanced environmental and social practices.

During the launch, the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, highlighted that the initiative marks the beginning of a new stage in the environmental policy of the Brazilian maritime sector. According to him, the public consultation represents a joint effort with the productive sector, workers, and civil society. “We are beginning a major public consultation with the productive sector, workers, and organized civil society to discuss a major public policy that aligns with sustainability in Brazil,” he said.

The National Secretary for Waterways and Navigation, Otto Burlier, reiterated that the process is essential for improving regulation and consolidating sustainability guidelines through a participatory approach. He explained that the proposal has been developed over the years in dialogue with the sector and that now is the moment to consolidate contributions. “We are launching the public consultation to receive contributions from all of society on what qualifies as a sustainable vessel. This is an essential topic to put the BR do Mar program into practice and to consolidate maritime transport as a driver of Brazil’s energy transition,” he said.

The Sustainability Director of MPor, Larissa Amorim, emphasized that the work is the result of a joint effort and a long-term vision that positions Brazil as a global leader in the environmental agenda. “It is the result of many years of work, bringing practicality and reinforcing the commitment to make Brazil a global benchmark in governance, innovation, and sustainability in the maritime sector,” she said.

The public consultation will be available on the Participa + Brasil platform, allowing contributions from companies, workers, and civil society organizations. After the suggestion period ends, the final version will be published in the Federal Official Gazette, in a joint directive signed by Ministers Silvio Costa Filho and Geraldo Alckmin.

Naval decarbonization

Immediately after the launch, the minister took part in the panel “Green and Innovation Corridors: sustainable connections for the future,” which brought together representatives from Maersk, the international organization Slocat, and the government of Norway to discuss strategies for creating low-carbon logistics routes, focusing on the energy transition of maritime transport and international cooperation in sustainability.

During the panel, Silvio Costa Filho emphasized that COP30 represents a milestone for the country and will leave an important legacy in the sustainability and decarbonization agenda. He recalled that Brazil has consolidated itself as a strategic destination for investment in green infrastructure and stated that “the world wants to invest in good projects, and Brazil has become a major international player because it has solid, profitable initiatives aligned with sustainability.”

The minister also reinforced the federal government’s commitment to environmental governance and logistics innovation. According to him, under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the ministry has been prioritizing sustainable projects within the Merchant Marine Fund and advancing the energy-transition agenda in Brazilian ports. Silvio also announced that the National Secretariat of Waterways is preparing the country’s first waterway concession, the Paraguay Waterway, scheduled for April 2026, and highlighted the results of the BR do Mar program and investments in port infrastructure projects.

Currently, the Brazilian port sector handles more than R$ 30 billion in infrastructure project contracts and is expected to reach R$ 45 billion in new investments by 2026, with the potential to generate 50 thousand direct and indirect jobs.

Ending his participation, the minister stressed that the environmental challenge is also an economic opportunity for the country. “Brazil has all the conditions to lead the global energy transition. We can become a major exporter of sustainable fuels and a world reference in green logistics,” he said.

Fonte: Ministério dos Portos e Aeroportos

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