Brazil’s Port of Natal Completes Dredging, Eyes Recovery After

The Port of Natal has completed removing a sandbank that was hindering access to the maritime terminal. According to Paulo Henrique Macedo, CEO of the Rio Grande do Norte Dock Company (CODERN), the project is expected to mark the starting point for the facility’s structural and financial recovery. The facility has been operating at the limit of its navigational draft.

In an interview on Tribuna Livre, aired by Jovem Pan News Natal (93.5 FM) on Monday (May 5), Macedo emphasized the importance of the dredging work to keep the port operational and pointed to progress made in recent months—particularly with the support of the region’s leading fruit exporter. “Agrícola Famosa, the main fruit exporter, has brought a positive impact and even contributed significantly to the port’s financial recovery,” he said.

According to Macedo, the most significant risk was the reduction in the port’s draft—the distance between the waterline and the bottom of a ship’s hull—which currently stands at 10 meters. “The dredging was initially scheduled for the second half of the year, but we were at risk of losing the 10-meter draft, which could drop to 8 meters. At 8 meters, we would have to shut down the port,” he explained.

Macedo added that a definitive solution, such as a complete redesign of the access channel, would require an investment of more than BRL 200 million. “The solution would cost over 200 million reais to straighten the channel, but we need to focus on a sustainable solution through regular maintenance. Otherwise, the port shuts down—and we need to maintain the flow of fruit exports,” he noted.

The CEO also stressed that the emergency dredging has been completed, but the next step is to verify its effectiveness through technical reports. “The sandbank has already been removed. Now, I need to prove it was done within the required parameters. The Navy, the Port Authority, and the Port Administration need to validate the updated seabed topography,” he stated.

According to him, much remains to be done to ensure the full navigability of the channel. “The next steps are to dredge the channel and remove all sediment buildup. We’ve removed 70,000 cubic meters, but the forecast is for 900,000,” he concluded.

Source: Tribuna do Norte

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