Port of Vila Velha enters route of larger Panamax vessels

The Vila Velha Port Complex, in Espírito Santo state, is entering a new phase in its logistics development. Recent technical studies, combined with investments in infrastructure, technology and operational safety, are enabling the terminal to handle larger vessels, repositioning the port as a key asset in strengthening Espírito Santo’s competitiveness in foreign trade.

With updated berthing parameters, the Vila Velha Port Terminal (TVV) is now able to receive Panamax-class vessels measuring up to 245 meters in length, 32.5 meters in beam and with a draft of 12 meters.

More than 1,000 vessels in the global fleet that match these specifications are now able to call at Vila Velha. The change is expected to deliver economies of scale, lower costs, higher productivity and access to new maritime routes previously concentrated in other Brazilian states.

Maintenance dredging carried out in 2025 also increased cargo handling capacity and created room for new shipping services by raising the maximum deadweight capacity of vessels calling at the port to up to 83,000 tonnes.

Technological leap and multimodal integration

Physical upgrades at the Vila Velha Port Terminal have been accompanied by technological advances, including a new integrated vessel traffic control system operating 24 hours a day, designed to improve safety and operational predictability.

Gate automation — which manages the entry and exit of trucks and containers — combined with road weighbridges and plans to install a rail weighbridge, is also helping reduce bottlenecks and improve logistics flow.

The implementation of remote operation for the terminal’s three ship-to-shore container cranes has made the Port of Vila Velha the first in Latin America to operate large cranes remotely. The system, which involved BRL 42 million in investment, has increased crane productivity by up to 25%. The initiative forms a key component of the terminal’s modernization plan, which foresees more than BRL 500 million in investments through 2048.

Integration with the rail network, scheduled to begin in 2026, is considered the next major strategic step in expanding the port’s reach, creating new connections with markets in neighboring states.

According to Everaldo Colodetti, Vila Velha’s secretary for economic development, the move consolidates the city as an important logistics hub in Brazil.

“When the Port of Vila Velha gains scale, efficiency and multimodal integration, it reduces costs for companies, increases the competitiveness of the municipality and the state, and strengthens our position in global export and import supply chains,” he said.

Expansion of backport areas

In addition to operational modernization, new areas in Vila Velha are being incorporated into port operations, expanding capacity for handling containers, bulk cargo and general cargo.

“All these investments are transforming the Port of Vila Velha into a strategic asset for economic development, job creation and the attraction of new business. In a global scenario marked by route concentration and the search for efficiency, the port is no longer just a collection of infrastructure but a highly competitive logistics asset for the state and for Brazil,” Colodetti said.

“A larger, more modern and better-connected port is fully capable of meeting the demands of today’s market,” he added.

Source: Grafitti News

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