Itapoá Port Sees 15% Productivity Increase with New Portainer, Expanded Operations

Acquired last year and starting operations in 2024, the new portainer (a rail-mounted crane that moves containers between ships and the dock) at Itapoá Port has already delivered a 15% increase in productivity. However, the crane doesn’t operate alone: each portainer requires a range of supporting equipment and personnel, collectively referred to in the Brazilian port industry as a “terno.”

The seventh terno at Itapoá Port went into full operation in August, and the results have been evident, according to Sergni Pessoa Rosa Jr., Director of Operations, Technology, and Environment at the terminal. “The average movements per hour (MPH) in August for ship operations was 94, which is considered excellent within the industry,” he explains.

MPH is one of the key efficiency indicators for a port terminal. “We even reached 197 MPH at some points during the month, which shows there is still room for improvement,” Rosa Jr. assesses. The main advantage is the reduction in the time ships spend at the dock, leading to increased productivity throughout the port. “The positive result at the dock reflects across the entire operation, improving performance for everyone involved.”

The seventh portainer has a boom length of 70 meters and can reach ships up to 65 meters wide. “It is one of the largest portainers in operation in Brazil, ready to handle the largest vessels in the world,” notes Rosa Jr. The terminal also has six other portainers, four with 55-meter booms and two with 65-meter booms.

Remote-Controlled Cranes

Porto Itapoá will be the first port terminal in South America to operate Remote-Controlled Gantry Cranes (RTGs). The acquisition of ten of these machines—an investment of over $25 million—will enhance the terminal’s operational agility.

Porto Itapoá to Have Brazil’s Largest Fleet of Electric Trucks

Porto Itapoá has acquired a fleet of 20 new electric trucks for its internal operations. Known as Terminal Tractors (TTs), these vehicles are used for internal container movement at the terminal. The acquisition, valued at R$ 20 million, is part of the port’s expansion process and establishes it as having the largest fleet of electric TTs among Brazilian port terminals.