Port of Santos to offer up to 65% discounts based on number of calls

The Port of Santos has implemented new discounts that reward ships with reduced fees based on the number of calls they make. This initiative can lead to up to 65% discounts for long-haul navigation and cabotage. Additionally, incentives will be provided to environmentally-friendly vessels as part of an effort to promote sustainability. The Ministry of Ports and Airports announced the measure on Saturday (17), and it took effect on Monday (19) after being published in the Official Gazette.

According to the ministry, the objective behind the approved discounts is to enhance the efficiency of the Port of Santos while ensuring fair tariff collection and improving the competitiveness of public terminals. The Port Authority of Santos (APS) will calculate the fee based on the type of navigation and the frequency of terminal use by the vessel, aiming to foster user loyalty.

Márcio França, the Minister of Ports and Airports, explained that the progressive discount aims to reward vessels that frequently utilize the Port of Santos, which can serve as a valuable means of loyalty and offer foreign trade options to different markets.

Regarding cabotage, the government seeks to encourage increased participation in this mode of transportation. França stated, “We believe that cabotage has competitive, environmental, and safety advantages that should be encouraged. The discount is also a way to consolidate the Port of Santos as a hub port in the country, enabling the concentration and distribution of cargo through cabotage routes.”

Anderson Pomini, President of the APS, expressed his appreciation for the decision made by President Lula and Minister Márcio França, emphasizing that it represents a significant milestone for the Port of Santos, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Pomini highlighted the importance of countries maintaining sovereignty over their ports and viewed it as a message to the world.

The new discounts table comprises seven ranges of vessel calls at the Port fo Santos for both types of navigation. For instance, range 1, which includes one to two stopovers, does not offer a discount for long-haul vessels but provides a 30% reduction for cabotage. The deduction for both types of navigation is only equal in the highest range, above 48 stops, with a 65% discount.

In support of sustainability efforts, green vessels with a positive Ship Environmental Index (ESI) score will enjoy even lower rates at the Port of Santos. The higher the ship’s ESI score, the greater the discount, which can reach up to 12%.

In a video alongside Minister Márcio França, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) emphasized that this measure stimulates the sector and increases the profit margin for the production chain. He stated, “We want to lower the cost of production in this country and make it easier for those who produce, those who plant, those who harvest, those who export.”

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