Paranaguá Port Increases Draft, Boosting Container Ship Productivity

Container ship productivity at the Port of Paranaguá has improved following another draft increase—the vertical distance between a vessel’s keel and the water’s surface. The maximum draft has been raised from 12.6 meters to 12.8 meters, allowing ships to carry an additional 160 TEUs per call.

The new draft limit took effect on February 28 and was formalized under Ordinance No. 014/2025 of the Maritime Traffic and Port Stay Regulations for the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina – 2025 Edition.

The update was approved by the Brazilian Navy, through the local Harbor Master’s Office, with clearance from the Port Authority and pilotage service. “This marks another step in the ongoing work we’ve been carrying out since 2019 to make our port increasingly efficient and competitive,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

Paranaguá is the world’s leading export corridor for frozen poultry and boasts South America’s largest reefer container yard, currently equipped with 5,268 reefer plugs.

In 2024, container throughput at Paraná’s ports reached 1,558,450 TEUs, a 24% increase over the 1,253,204 TEUs handled in 2023. Frozen poultry exports accounted for 30.5% of all containerized shipments, while plastics and inorganic chemicals together represented 31.4% of total imports.

The chart below exhibits Port of Paranagua’s top container exports in 2024. The data comes from DataLiner.

Paranaguá Container Exports | 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Operational Gains from Draft Increases

This latest adjustment follows a recent draft increase in November 2024, when limits were raised from 12.3 meters to 12.6 meters, allowing vessels to carry an additional 220 TEUs each. Now, with the draft set at 12.8 meters, the port further enhances its efficiency.

Beyond container terminals, nine berths and two piers also saw their drafts increase in 2024:

Berth 201, part of the Western Export Corridor, and Berths 202 and 204, which handle dry bulk exports and general cargo, had their drafts raised from 12.8 meters to 13.1 meters.

Berths 209 and 211, dedicated to fertilizer imports, as well as Berths 212, 213, and 214, which make up the Eastern Export Corridor, were also deepened to 13.1 meters.

Part of Berth 208, which handles fertilizers, saw a more significant increase, from 11 meters to 13.1 meters.

Two piers also benefited from draft increases: the outer berth of the liquid bulk TUP pier and the outer berth of the leased fertilizer pier.

Rock Removal Project Improves Navigation and Safety

In November 2024, the completion of rock removal operations at Pedra da Palangana improved navigation between the access channel and the turning basin, reducing maneuvering risks.

The project expanded the available space, enhanced navigational safety, and allowed for increased draft limits. A total of 20,000 cubic meters of rock was removed—equivalent to 10% of the entire formation, which is estimated at over 200,000 cubic meters. The work was carried out in full compliance with federal environmental licensing regulations (License No. 1144/2016, issued by IBAMA).

Source: Informativo dos Portos

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