Dredging project restores berth capacity at Brazil’s Port of São Sebastião

Maintenance dredging has been intensified at the Port of São Sebastião, located on the northern coast of São Paulo state. The work, which began two weeks ago, is focused on berth 101. The project is considered essential to ensure the continuity and efficiency of port operations.

The intervention will remove 57,000 cubic meters (m³) of sediment accumulated in the turning basin and at the docking berth, restoring the minimum operational depth of 10 meters.

The dredging is being carried out by the São Sebastião Dock Company (CDSS), with authorization from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). The port is managed under the São Paulo State Secretariat for Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (Semil).

According to CDSS President Ernesto Sampaio, the project’s start marks a strategic step forward. “With dredging, we enhance the safety and predictability of operations, keeping the port fully capable of meeting demand with both efficiency and environmental responsibility,” he said.

The sediment removed will be deposited in the Containment Dike, an area within the port designated specifically for the storage of this type of material. “This is a sustainable solution, as the site only receives clean, uncontaminated sediment that can be repurposed for beneficial uses,” Semil stated.

Another highlight of the project, according to the secretariat, is the constant monitoring of marine wildlife. “Throughout the dredging process, a specialized professional, supported by drones, monitors the area to detect the presence of whales and sea turtles. If any animals are detected nearby, operations are immediately halted until it is confirmed that they have safely moved away.”

The Port of São Sebastião boasts one of the deepest shipping channels in the country, reaching depths of up to 42 meters, and is considered strategically important for cargo transportation along the northern coast. Maintenance dredging is required due to natural silting caused by rainfall, winds, ocean currents, and ship movement.

Source: A Tribuna

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