TCP operational draft extended to 12.80 meters after new review

Last Friday, February 28th, Portos do Paraná ratified Ordinance No. 014/2025/APPA, which determines the increase in the operational draft of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá from 12.60 meters to 12.80 meters at zero tide. The measure, approved by the Brazilian Navy and Praticagem, directly benefits the transport capacity of the container vessels that access TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal.

According to estimates, the 20-centimeter increase in draft, which is the depth between a vessel’s lowest point and the waterline, means an increase in transport capacity equivalent to approximately 160 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit) per vessel.

“The recent increase in the operational draft at the Port of Paranaguá represents a significant milestone for our port infrastructure, further boosting the competitiveness of the Paranaguá Container Terminal. The port is already fully capable of receiving and operating larger vessels, such as the 366-meter-long ships that began calling at the TCP quay in 2024. The new draft further optimizes the operations of all vessels, resulting in a substantial increase in efficiency and cargo handling at the Terminal,” says Carolina Merkle Brown, TCP’s commercial manager for shipowners.

This is the second increase to be approved in the last three months: in November 2024, the operational draft in the Port’s access channel had already been increased from 12.10 meters to 12.60 meters at zero tide. Adding the two draft increases, which total 70 centimetres, there was an increase in the vessels’ transport capacity of close to 560 TEUs.

“Several shipowners were already using the 12.60 centimeter draft less than a month after the publication of the previous ordinance, from November 2024. Therefore, our expectation is that the new draft of 12.80 meters will be used soon, which should boost handling results even more this year,” says Felipe de França, TCP’s operations planning manager.

In 2024, TCP recorded the highest operating result in its history, with more than 1.5 million TEUs handled, making it the third port terminal in Brazil to reach this mark. That year also saw a new high in the number of berths for the 12-month period, with 992 vessels received at the quay.

TCP is currently the country’s largest hub for shipping lines, with 25 regular weekly calls.

Completion of rock removal works

The increase in the operational draft came about after the completion of the underwater excavation work on a portion of the Palanganas Rocks, located in the region of the Port Access Channel. Approximately 20,000 cubic meters of rock were removed from the seabed and then broken up and donated to municipalities on the coast of Paraná, which will receive the material to be used in public interest projects, such as paving roads for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The work was carried out in compliance with the measures established under federal environmental license No. 1144/2016 issued by Ibama. A series of prevention and mitigation measures were carried out to minimize the possibility of damage to fauna and flora, as well as periodic monitoring to ensure that the environmental quality of the site is maintained.

Sharing is caring!