Governor of Santa Catarina Inspects Long-Awaited Project at São Francisco do Sul Port

On Thursday (9), the Governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, visited the site of an underwater rock removal project at São Francisco do Sul Port—a complex engineering undertaking that the port community had been waiting for over 30 years. Removing this submerged rock near berth 101 will allow ships to carry an additional 1,500 tons of cargo per voyage, increasing the port’s efficiency and competitiveness.

“This project has been awaited for 30 years, and no one took action. We are making it happen. This will provide greater capacity for those bringing goods here or shipping them from Santa Catarina,” said Governor Jorginho Mello. He emphasized the project’s importance for the state’s growth and praised the ongoing efforts at São Francisco do Sul Port. “This is an excellent example of starting 2025 with energy and meaningful results.”

The project, carried out by Náutica Marítima Serviços, began last week and is estimated to cost R$12 million. The submerged rock measures 370 m³ (equivalent to five containers) and is 12 meters deep. Its removal aims to deepen the berth to 14 meters, eliminating additional maneuvers that currently cost up to R$100,000 per vessel.

According to Cleverton Vieira, the port’s president, the project will bring significant benefits: “The rock removal will represent a substantial operational improvement, reducing costs and time for the entire port community. This makes São Francisco do Sul Port more competitive among Brazilian terminals.”

The operation employs high-precision mechanical methods without explosives, ensuring safety and minimizing environmental impact. Equipment such as underwater hammers, hydraulic breakers, and excavators fragment and remove the rock. In this first phase, set to be completed by the end of January, 4,500 holes measuring 10 cm in diameter each will be drilled into the rock to allow its division using chisels.

According to Ivan Amaral, the Secretary of State for Ports, Airports, and Railways, the project will directly impact port operations: “Currently, ships cannot load their full capacity in one go, requiring repositioning, which generates extra costs. With this removal, the Port will be better equipped to receive larger vessels, enabling more cargo to be handled at a lower cost.”

Phased Execution to Accommodate Grain Traffic

Due to the heavy movement of grains at berth 101, the project will be executed in two phases. Drilling will be conducted during the first phase, which will last until the end of January. The work will then pause during the soybean harvest shipping period, which typically extends until October, to ensure full operational capacity at the berth. After the soybean cycle ends, the project will resume and move toward completion.

São Francisco do Sul Port Highlights:

• Largest cargo-handling Port in Santa Catarina.
• Among the top 10 public ports in Brazil for general cargo handling.
• Record-breaking cargo movement in 2024: 16.9 million tons.
• Certified with ISO 9001 and 14001, one of only five public ports in Brazil with these certifications.
• Responsible for 42% of all steel imported to Brazil and 80% of the soybeans exported from Santa Catarina.

Removing the submerged rock marks a significant step forward for São Francisco do Sul Port, reinforcing its strategic role in domestic and international trade.

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