Port of Santos extends tariff discount for low-emission ships

Brazil’s Port Authority of Santos (APS) has extended for another 120 days a tariff discount granted to so-called “green ships,” vessels with lower pollutant emissions, the port operator said. The incentive has been in place since 2023.

The discount applies to ships registered and positively rated under the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), a sustainability benchmark used in the maritime industry. The rebate can reach up to 15% and applies to charges for the use of the port’s waterway access infrastructure, calculated based on a vessel’s gross tonnage.

According to APS, the policy is part of its broader strategy to address climate risks and encourage the use of more environmentally efficient vessels at Latin America’s largest port.

Shipping accounts for roughly 80% of global trade and about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The transformation of ports is therefore seen as critical to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement, the 2015 international accord aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The Port of Santos aims to position itself as a leader in the energy transition of Brazil’s maritime sector.

Since 2023, tariff incentives granted to ships and terminals adopting sustainable practices have totaled more than 40.6 million reais ($8 million). APS has waived this revenue to encourage compliance with international environmental standards and to attract newer, more efficient vessels as the global fleet undergoes renewal.

Path toward decarbonization

APS says ports must act on three main fronts to support decarbonization: improving logistics efficiency, expanding the use of biofuels and supplying renewable electricity.

In October, APS signed a contract with Spain’s Fundación Valenciaport to develop a Decarbonization Plan and an Energy Master Plan for the Port of Santos. The studies are expected to be completed within 22 months.

The decarbonization plan will define guidelines and targets to reduce emissions across the entire port complex in the Baixada Santista region. This includes operations by APS itself, private port terminals, ships calling at the port and related rail and road transport systems.

The energy master plan will outline measures to shift the port’s energy supply away from fossil fuels toward cleaner sources.

Since 2024, the port has also been developing a pilot project to electrify part of its quay operations. Clean, renewable electricity generated by the Itatinga Hydroelectric Plant currently powers about 20 tugboats operating at the port.

Negotiations are underway to expand the energy supply. A planned modernization of the hydroelectric facility — currently under study — could increase generation capacity and include the production of green hydrogen. The plant already supplies a large share of APS’s energy needs and could eventually power a significant portion of port operations.

Logistics efficiency is also being addressed through cooperation with the São José dos Campos Technology Innovation Park (PIT), which is developing systems to improve the sequencing of trucks and vessels, reducing waiting times and associated emissions.

Since 2021, APS has managed its emissions using scientific methodology and publishes an annual greenhouse gas inventory based on the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program, aligned with guidelines from São Paulo state’s environmental agency, CETESB.

Discounts for frequent calls

APS will also extend discounts for ships that make frequent calls at the Port of Santos, starting March 11, as part of efforts to encourage cabotage shipping along Brazil’s coast.

The rebate ranges from 25% for long-haul vessels calling at the port four times to as much as 65% for ships that make 48 or more calls within a 12-month period.

Source: APS

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