Rio’s Sepetiba Tecon Sets Historic Milestone with First New Panamax-Class Ship Docking

On Monday, August 12, the Sepetiba Tecon terminal witnessed history with the arrival of the MSC Orion, the first New Panamax-class container ship ever to dock at a terminal in Rio de Janeiro state. Among the Brazilian ports equipped to receive this vessel, Sepetiba Tecon stands out as the only one capable of operating it with a draft of up to 15.4 meters.

The MSC Orion, the largest ship ever to dock in Rio de Janeiro state, was built in 2020. It measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters in width and has a carrying capacity of 15,000 TEUs and 158,100 tonnes. To put its size into perspective, its length is nearly ten times the height of the Christ the Redeemer statue.

In recent years, shipping companies have increasingly opted to employ New Panamax-class vessels. This trend is driven by the need to maximize efficiency and cargo capacity, as these ships are designed to take advantage of the expanded dimensions of the Panama Canal following its 2016 enlargement. With their high transport capacity, these ships allow for significant economies of scale, reducing operating costs per cargo unit.

Additionally, they are more fuel-efficient and employ advanced technologies that yield lower pollutant emissions, aligning with the growing demand for sustainability in the maritime sector. Utilizing New Panamax-class vessels represents a strategic response to global trade needs, which call for more robust and sustainable solutions to handle the increasing throughput of goods.

To accommodate these large vessels, Sepetiba Tecon has made significant investments in upgrading and expanding its infrastructure. Key improvements include dredging and modifications to nautical signaling in maneuvering areas, the turning basin, and the terminal’s berths. Maneuver simulations were also conducted with the participation of the Rio de Janeiro Pilots’ Association at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in the United States, and strict environmental parameters were established for each docking.

Another factor that qualifies Sepetiba Tecon as capable of handling New Panamax-class ships is its strategic location. The terminal features an access channel protected by the broadleaf forest known as Restinga da Marambaia, whose topography separates the waters of Sepetiba Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, ensuring calm seas and shelter from bad weather and sediment buildup. These conditions create an ideal environment for the navigation and docking of large ships. Additionally, the terminal is situated in the southeastern region of Brazil, close to major importers and exporters, and just 12 hours by sea from the Port of Santos, making it an important connection point with other terminals. The terminal’s rail and road access points, located away from urban centers, ensure the terminal can handle the volume of containers that come with ships this size.

The chart below shows container exports from the Port of Itaguai, where Sepetiba Tecon is located, with data encompassing January 2021 all the way to June 2024. The information comes from DataLiner.

Container Exports from Itaguai Port | Jan 2021 – Jun 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Pedro Brito, CEO of Sepetiba Tecon, stated that the arrival of the MSC Orion reaffirms the terminal’s importance as a bridge between other ports along the Brazilian coast, strengthening Sepetiba Tecon’s role as one of the country’s most important container terminals. “This isn’t the first time we’ve achieved unprecedented feats. We were the first to have the capacity to accommodate vessels with a draft of 15.40 meters, the largest on the East Coast of South America, and among the pioneers in Brazil to receive authorization to handle New Panamax-class ships. This docking was a milestone for the terminal and for Rio de Janeiro. We are confident that this achievement will attract even more economic development to the region and the state’s foreign trade,” Brito said.

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