Brazil’s Codern Opens $54.5 Million Tender for Port of Natal Dredging, Bids Due in June

The Companhia Docas do Rio Grande do Norte (Codern) has published the bidding notice for dredging and readjustment of the access channel to the Port of Natal in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU). The notice estimates a budget of R$54.5 million for the project, which aims to prepare the terminal to receive larger vessels and facilitate an increase in cargo movement, both for coastal shipping and international ports. The bidding notice sets June 25 as the date for opening proposals from competing companies.

According to the bidding notice, the service will be contracted under a unit price contract, with an open bidding process based on the lowest price. Dredging the Potengi River involves excavating and removing sediment from the riverbed. This action is crucial for expanding the port’s capacity, allowing for increased draft and accommodating larger vessels at the terminal. This enhancement is expected to boost maritime trade in Rio Grande do Norte.

The governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra, met on Tuesday (1st) in Brasília with the Minister of Management and Innovation, Esther Dweck, and the Secretary of Coordination and Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, Elisa Leonel, to discuss strategic measures for the Port of Natal. Topics included terminal modernization, infrastructure investments, and financial sustainability, all of which are essential to improving the state’s competitiveness and logistical capacity.

In addition to dredging, the meeting also addressed the construction of protective barriers for the Newton Navarro Bridge, a R$ 47 million project aimed at enhancing navigation safety, modernizing the port, and strengthening the local economy.

The installation of protective barriers on the central pillars of the bridge will allow large vessels to safely approach any time, facilitating increased cargo movement through coastal shipping and international ports.

Beyond its impact on infrastructure, the dredging project comes at a strategically significant time for Rio Grande do Norte’s maritime economy. According to the Regional Review Bulletin from Banco do Brasil, the state’s GDP is projected to grow by 6.7% in 2025, one of the highest rates in the country.

The Secretary of Economic Development, Sílvio Torquato, emphasized that future investments in the Port of Natal will increase exports from Rio Grande do Norte and serve as a key driver for job creation in the state.

“This infrastructure expansion will contribute to this growth and create the conditions to expand our exports and productive activities, generating more jobs and opportunities for the people of Rio Grande do Norte,” said the secretary.

Minister Esther Dweck highlighted the project’s importance for the port’s development and the state’s economy. “We need to ensure that the Port of Natal becomes increasingly competitive and modern, meeting the demands of a growing market,” she stated.

“The dredging of the Port of Natal is essential to encourage and boost the economic development of Rio Grande do Norte. It will bring more competitiveness, security, and opportunities for workers,” said Governor Fátima Bezerra.

The Port of Natal is a key player in the state’s economy, serving as a vital link for fruit exports and other goods. The anticipated improvements will increase cargo movement and open new business opportunities in the coming years.

Source: Tribuna do Norte

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