Dredging investments guarantee safe navigation in Brazilian rivers

To enhance navigability and ensure greater safety for vessels, the Federal Government has signed two Service Orders this week for dredging operations on the Madeira River. This initiative is part of the broader waterway maintenance plan for Brazilian rivers, aimed at facilitating the transportation of products to the North and Central-West regions of the country. Dredging will take place at two locations on the Madeira River: between Porto Velho, Rondônia, and Manicoré, Amazonas, and at the BR-230/RO crossing over the river.

The dredging work, set to begin soon, will be overseen by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit). Since 2022, the municipality has established an agenda for dredging and regular monitoring to mitigate the impacts of future droughts and promote the economic and social development of the Amazon region. National Secretary of Waterways and Navigation, Dino Antunes, emphasized that the signing of these Service Orders will ensure year-round river navigation.

He noted that a significant portion of the transport of agricultural goods takes place in the Arco Norte region, which includes the states of Acre, Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins. “Preserving the depth at the Madeira, Tapajós, and Amazonas rivers is crucial. Therefore, dredging is essential to enable vessels to navigate safely with adequate river depth,” Antunes explained.

Sustainable Transportation

Secretary Antunes also highlighted that improving transport logistics along Brazilian waterways reduces economic and socio-environmental costs. “Expanding our waterways contributes to sustainable logistics in the country. Using barges for transport significantly cuts pollutant emissions and reduces road accidents. Improving waterway transport directly enhances the sustainability of national logistics.”

Federal Investment

The newly signed Service Orders complement the recent release of notices for dredging the Amazon and Solimões rivers. Last week, four service calls were announced to back cabotage navigation, container navigation to the Manaus free zone, fuel navigation, and passenger transport. “These combined dredging actions will ensure safer navigation in the northern region of the country,” Antunes added.

Minister Silvio Costa Filho (MPor) and Dnit Director Erick Moura signed the Service Orders, guaranteeing the immediate commencement of work on stretches between Manaus-Itacoatiara, Coari-Codajás, Benjamin Constant-Tabatinga, and Benjamin Constant-São Paulo de Olivença. In total, over R$500 million will be invested over five years to mitigate the effects of droughts in the region.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

Click here to read the original news report: https://www.informativodosportos.com.br/investimentos-em-dragagem-garantem-navegacao-segura-nas-hidrovias-brasileiras/

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