Port of Paranaguá increases draft for bulk carriers to boost export capacity

Bulk carriers will depart even more heavily loaded from the Port of Paranaguá following authorization from the relevant authorities to increase the draft from 13.1 m to 13.3 m. Draft is the distance between the water’s surface and the deepest point of the vessel (the keel). The approval was published by Portos do Paraná in Ordinance No. 188/2025 of the Maritime Traffic and Stay Regulations on Wednesday (17).

With the additional 20 centimeters, the loading capacity for solid bulk cargoes — such as soybeans, corn, and meal — increases by up to 1,500 tonnes per vessel. The measure represents a competitive advantage for operators, who can now move more cargo without added costs.

Since the last draft update in December 2024, when it was raised from 12.80 m to 13.10 m, the export corridor of the Port of Paranaguá has increased its capacity by more than 5%. This amounted to just over 800,000 additional tonnes moved through August this year.

“Our goal is to receive increasingly larger vessels that can carry more goods while maintaining excellence in meeting the constant demands of the market,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

The measure was approved by the pilotage authority and the Brazilian Navy, and applies to berths 201, 202, 204, 209, 211, 212, and 213, which handle cargoes such as sugar, meal, fertilizers, corn, and soybeans.

The rock removal works completed last year and the regular dredging investments made by the public company are the main factors behind the successive draft improvements.

Concession of access channel and draft of 15.5 m

On October 22, the auction for the concession of the access channel to the ports of Paraná will be held at Brazil’s Stock Exchange (B3). Planned improvements include increasing the draft to 15.5 m within the first five years of the concession and maintaining it until the end of the contract.

The concession also includes a 12.63% discount on the Inframar fee, paid by vessels to access the ports. The concessionaire will only start receiving the full fee — and may request gradual adjustments — after fulfilling the schedule of improvements set out in the notice and concession contract.

The winning bidder will also be required to carry out studies and hydrographic surveys, dredging, rock removal, signaling, and other maintenance and modernization works for the Paranaguá access channel.

The planned investment is R$1.23 billion, to be executed in the first five years of the 25-year contract.

Flexibility of maneuvers

The latest update to the Maritime Traffic Regulations occurred in August, when Portos do Paraná announced more flexible unberthing maneuvers at berths that mainly handle solid vegetable bulk exports such as soybeans, meal, corn, and sugar.

Ordinance No. 144/2025 took effect on August 1, covering berths 201, 204, 212, 213, and 214 at the Port of Paranaguá. The measure was made possible after the removal of the tip of Pedra da Palangana and the revision of the Access Channel’s signaling, based on maneuvering simulations that ensured vessel safety during departure, without restrictions related to tide or current.

Source: Portos do Paraná

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