Svitzer Begins Operations at São Luís Port Complex and Expands Its Presence in Brazil

Svitzer, a global leader in towage and maritime services, has expanded its presence in Brazil with the start of operations at Port of Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão. The company has invested over R$650 million in the country recently and has a defined strategy for the Brazilian market. It continuously seeks to expand and strengthen the range of services offered to its clients.

The beginning of Svitzer Brazil’s operations at Port of Itaqui marks a significant step for the company. Strategically located in Maranhão, the Port of Itaqui is part of one of Brazil’s largest cargo port complexes, serving as a logistical hub for much of the goods produced in the Center-North and Central regions of the country. With its robust infrastructure, including storage facilities for grains and fuels, berths with depths that allow the docking of large vessels, and multimodal logistical connections, the Port of Itaqui plays a fundamental role in the economic development of the region and the country.

By commencing operations in Maranhão, Svitzer continues its growth trajectory in Brazil, with the start of operations in Maranhão marking its ninth port entry in nine years and one that significantly strengthens Svitzer’s presence along the Brazilian coast. Besides Itaqui, Svitzer operates in Pecém and Fortaleza (Mucuripe), Suape, Salvador and Aratu, Vitória, Santos, Paranaguá and Antonina, São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá, and Rio Grande.

In addition to entering new markets, Svitzer also invests in human capital development by promoting continuous training and incorporating high-tech into new tugboats.

Powerful tugboats for high-performance operations

Svitzer’s entry into Maranhão is supported by two high-performance tugboats, the Svitzer Denise and Svitzer Joaquim R. These modern Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) models with static bollard pulls of 72 and 76 tonnes, are tailored to meet the operational demands of the ports of Itaqui, Ponta da Madeira, and Alumar.

“Operating in another port reinforces Svitzer’s commitment to the Brazilian market. Itaqui is the largest public port in the North and Northeast of Brazil and the fourth-largest public port in the country. It is a strategic hub for regional production and exports of products such as iron ore and soybeans. We aim to continuously expand and modernize our national fleet, as we consider Brazil a strategic country with enormous potential. This motivates us to invest consistently, particularly in highly safe and efficient equipment and in training our employees,” says Daniel Cohen, president of Svitzer Brazil.

Currently, Svitzer Brazil’s fleet includes 22 tugboats. Additionally, three more ASD (Azimuth Stern Drive) vessels, designed by Robert Allan Ltd., are under construction at the Brazilian Rio Maguari shipyard in Belém, Pará.

About Svitzer

Svitzer is a leading global provider of towage and maritime services. Its core activity involves assisting large maritime vessels during maneuvers to enter and exit ports and terminals to berth and unberth. With over 450 vessels in its global fleet, Svitzer’s services play a crucial role in port infrastructure. Founded in 1833, Svitzer serves approximately 2,000 clients in over 140 ports and 40 terminals across 37 countries. Learn more at www.svitzer.com.

Source: Svitzer

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