Santos port to deepen navigation channel for first time in 13 years

The Santos Port Authority (APS) has launched a public tender to deepen the port’s navigation channel to 16 meters — the first such project on this route in 13 years. The public bidding notice was published in Thursday’s edition of the Federal Gazette, and bids will be opened on September 26. The estimated cost is R$324.1 million.

According to APS CEO Anderson Pomini, this is “a necessity for the international market” and “the first step toward eventually securing a concession to deepen the channel to 17 meters and maintain it for 25 years or more.”

The winning company or consortium will also be responsible for maintenance dredging for a period of over two years. The contract calls for the removal of about 6.2 million cubic meters (m³) of sediment per year — 38% more than currently required to maintain the channel’s current depth of 15 meters.

The contract duration is five years. It includes the preparation of an Environmental Impact Study and Report (EIA/RIMA) for licensing purposes (to be completed within one year and nine months), as well as the development and delivery of a basic engineering plan (due four months after the service order) and an executive project (due two months after that).

Once the service order for deepening dredging is issued, work must begin within 30 days and be completed within six months. The channel spans 25 kilometers.

See below a historical overview of container throughput at the Port of Santos starting from January 2022. The chart was created using DataLiner data:

Container Throughput at the Port of Santos | Jan 2022 to May 2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Studies

The dredging pre-project was prepared by the National Institute for Waterway Research, which is linked to Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT).

Meanwhile, the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (Poli-USP) conducted studies on annual sedimentation rates within the channel.

Source: A Tribuna

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