Lack of dredging hinders operations at the Port of Santos

According to a report published by the Folha de S. Paulo, the reduction in the depth of the Port of Santos navigation channel has caused trouble to ships destined for bulk liquid chemical operations.

The lack of conditions for docking leads to overstaying, a fine charged for exceeding the time spent in a port as stipulated in the letter of departure. The values range from US$20,000 to US$35,000 per day (R$83,000 to R$145,000). The estimated total loss has already reached US$5m (R$20.7m).

The damage is caused by siltation (sediment deposits) in the channel bed, which results in the reduction of the operational draft (part of the ship that is submerged) in berths of ships in Alemoa and Barbabé island.

This has reduced the number of mooring points to three. At least 14 ships have already canceled their arrival at the port, which has a 15-day queue. The problem may still increase with the arrival of new vessels.

Dredging works have been suspended since April. According to the National Secretary of Ports and Waterways Transportation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Diogo Piloni, the new dredging contract of the Port of Santos should be signed on the 20th, when a meeting of the Board of Directors (Consad) of Codesp is scheduled. Construction is expected to begin in the first half of January.

Piloni states that the work must be performed by DTA Engenharia, which presented the best proposal (of R$274.7m) for the dredging of the Port for 24 months. The company was authorized and had its equipment inspected by Codesp.

Sources: Folha de S. Paulo e A Tribuna

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