Port of Itajaí Receives Utrecht Dredger to Restore Access Channel Depth

After welcoming a large vessel carrying vehicles from Chinese automaker BYD, the Port of Itajaí received the dredger Utrecht on Thursday (May 28). The vessel will be used to dredge the port’s access channel and restore optimal navigation conditions.

The hopper dredger arrived after authorities identified a 30-centimeter reduction in the channel’s draft, a situation that has been causing maneuvering restrictions, logistical delays, and higher operating costs. The reduction was confirmed through updated bathymetric surveys conducted by Hidrotop.

Considered the largest dredger currently operating at the port, the Utrecht is expected to restore the depth of the access channel and improve the safety of navigation and berthing operations. The vessel will also remove accumulated sediments to recover operational depths throughout the port complex.

According to the Port of Itajaí Administration, port operations continued normally during the monitoring period. The largest cargo vessel handled during this time operated with a draft of 12.8 meters, remaining within the safety limits established by technical teams, pilots, and maritime authorities.

Dredging activities remain underway, with continuous monitoring of the access channel, turning basins, and berths. At this stage, efforts focus on dispersing fluid mud, a common occurrence in port areas with high sedimentation rates, such as the Itajaí-Açu River.

Draft Reduction Raises Concerns in the Port Sector

The loss of channel depth prompted public authorities and private-sector representatives to seek emergency solutions during a meeting organized by the Itajaí Business Association (ACII). The main concern is the impact of the 30-centimeter draft reduction on the port’s competitiveness and the broader regional logistics chain.

According to Antonio Carlos Guimarães, ACII’s Vice President of Logistics and Foreign Trade, the temporary reduction in operational capacity has led to delays in berthing maneuvers, increased idle time at terminals, and the need to transship cargo through other ports, resulting in higher costs and longer delivery times.

Representatives from the Government of Santa Catarina, the municipalities of Itajaí and Navegantes, Portonave, JBS, business associations, and port operators attended the meeting. Additional discussions are scheduled over the next 30 days to assess the results of the dredging operations and evaluate long-term solutions for the port complex.

Normalization Expected Within 60 Days

According to Guimarães, the issue was caused by a temporary interruption in the maintenance dredging contract for the access channel. With dredging operations now resumed, expectations are that normal conditions will be restored within 60 days or less.

Source: NSC Total

Sharing is caring!