Port of Santos Renews Focus on Dredging

A recent hydrographic survey conducted by the Santos Port Authority (APS) unveiled promising findings for maritime traffic in the region. Dubbed the ‘green carpet,’ the survey revealed that the access channel to the port and the berths are well-maintained, boasting a depth of 15 meters or more, as indicated by APS graphics. This depth is crucial for accommodating vessels navigating through Santos and underscores the ongoing stability ensured by the maintenance service, a top priority for APS.

In a proactive move, on December 29, 2023, the Port Authority renewed its contract with Dutch firm Van Oord for maintenance dredging services in sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the port channel access and berths of the Port of Santos. This contract, valued at R$277.2 million over 24 months, ensures a continuous depth of 15 meters—a critical requirement for uninterrupted port operations.

APS President Anderson Pomini emphasized the significance of dredging services for the Port of Santos, personally overseeing the operations aboard the dredger. “Maintaining a depth of 15 meters is vital for port operations, and I’m pleased with the quality of service provided by Van Oord,” stated Pomini.

Van Oord’s executive director, Erick Aeck, underscored the company’s commitment to maintaining Brazil’s key ports, including Santos and the Port of Açu (RJ), through investments in state-of-the-art equipment. Aeck highlighted the use of advanced dredging vessels, such as the HAM 316 and Utrecht, alongside water injection dredgers like NJORD and Rio Madeira, deployed in various port projects nationwide.

Aeck emphasizes that their ability to serve Brazilian ports of such magnitude stems from investments in state-of-the-art and large-scale equipment. This includes two self-transporting dredgers, known as hoppers, with capacities of 10,000 cubic meters (m3) and 18,000 m3 for sediment storage, respectively named HAM 316 and Utrecht. Additionally, they utilize the NJORD and Rio Madeira water injection dredgers, deployed at the Port of Itajaí (SC) and the Alumar Terminal.

Aeck also celebrated Van Oord’s successful operations in 2023, which included dredging projects across major Brazilian ports in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro, and Pernambuco. Notably, the company resumed dredging in Suape (PE), a project aimed at deepening the external channel to 20 meters, enhancing the port’s strategic significance.

In line with environmental objectives, Van Oord has been investing in cleaner technologies and equipment efficiency. Aeck highlighted recent acquisitions, including LNG-powered dredgers and hybrid propulsion water injection dredgers, aimed at reducing environmental impact and enhancing operational efficiency.

Uninterrupted Port Operations

With an average of 15 vessel dockings per day, the Port of Santos operates round-the-clock, seven days a week. To sustain this level of activity, maintaining a depth of 15 meters in the access channel is imperative. Consequently, APS prioritizes ongoing maintenance dredging to support seamless port operations.

The chart below compares container exports (measured in TEUs) in the first two months of the last three years. The data is from DataLiner.

Container Exports via Santos | Jan-Feb 2022 x Jan-Feb 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Expansion of Deep Berths

In March, APS announced the commencement of deepening dredging operations to 15 meters in the berths of warehouses 12A to 20/21 on the Right Bank of the Port of Santos. With a budget of R$14.9 million, this initiative, undertaken by Náutica, aims to streamline vessel docking operations at the site, further enhancing port efficiency.

Revamping Dredging Operations

APS President Anderson Pomini unveiled the contract model for dredging operations, signaling a new era of predictability and efficiency. “We’ve conducted comprehensive studies to deepen the channel to 16 meters, with future plans for 17 meters. Our aim is to introduce a concession lasting a minimum of 25 years, ensuring stability and reliability in these vital services,” Pomini emphasized. “Given the Port’s increasing traffic and the growing size of vessels, dredging plays a pivotal role in maintaining Santos’ competitiveness,” he concluded.

In a strategic move, the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) is spearheading a project to privatize dredging operations under a 20-year public-private partnership (PPP). With projected investments of R$6.5 billion, the initiative encompasses maintenance dredging to sustain a 15-meter depth, alongside deepening efforts to reach 16 meters, with plans for further expansion to 17 meters. This ambitious endeavor entails a public investment of R$750 million injected between 2024 and 2026, supplemented by private contributions totaling R$5.8 billion, with BNDES overseeing the modeling process.

The roadmap to deepen the channel to 16 meters is already underway, with the National Institute for Waterway Research (INPH) spearheading preliminary planning. The release of the tender is slated for July 2025, paving the way for commencement in October 2025 and project completion by June 2026. These timelines are subject to acceleration if the concession is granted via PPP, with anticipated investments totaling R$324.1 million.

Source: A Tribuna

Click to access the original news report: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/dragagem-e-prioridade-no-porto-de-santos

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