New tariff discounts boost cabotage, inland navigation to Rio Grande Port

The National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) has approved a new tariff exemption for Inland Navigation and discounts for coastal shipping in the Organized Port of Rio Grande.

The tariff exemption for Inland Navigation primarily applies to Table III, which covers Operational or Land Infrastructure services within the port. Now, the first movement of goods coming from Inland Navigation is exempt from fees when they are stored for later shipment via waterway transportation.

Director Caio Farias, the rapporteur of the process, explained that the change aims to ensure competitive conditions for the state’s port network and promote both Inland Navigation and Cabotage in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

ANTAQ considered objective and isonomic criteria in analyzing the claims presented by Portos RS, aiming to enhance competitiveness and attract greater demand to the organized port in accordance with the requirements established in ANTAQ Resolution 61/2021, which outlines the policy for granting tariff exemptions and discounts.

The reduction announcement was made on Wednesday (5th) in the presence of ANTAQ’s director-general, Eduardo Nery, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), Roberto Gusmão, and the National Secretary of Ports and Waterways Transport, Fabrizio Pierdomenico.

ANTAQ’s director-general emphasized that the exemption for Inland Navigation, in particular, will have positive impacts on the region’s waterway traffic, particularly in Lagoa Mirim-Lagoa dos Patos.

“The waterway transport mode is the final frontier for promoting intermodality in the country. We are pleased to announce the reduced tariffs as they will bring significant impacts to inland navigation in Lagoa dos Patos,” he stated.

The deliberation will come into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

Cabotage

New discounts on Table I charges were also approved, which will lower the billing values for waterway access Infrastructure services in the port. Now, Cabotage Navigation companies will be billed at values lower than or equal to those of Long Haul Navigation.

According to the rapporteur, “the proposed amendment aims to increase competitiveness and attract demand to the public ports managed by Portos RS.”

The new rules regarding tariff deductibles or exemptions, which will be incorporated into the current tariff structure, are outlined in the Annexes to the Resolution and will come into effect within five working days from their publication.

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