Tecon Vila do Conde helps dodge drought limitations on Amazon River

Santos Brasil, through its container terminal in Vila do Conde, has taken on a crucial role in supporting shipping companies facing difficulties navigating the Amazon River due to a severe drought affecting the region, reducing river navigation by approximately 40%.

With enough operational capacity to handle extraordinary demands, the company has become a stopping point for cabotage and long-haul ships heading to Manaus that need to reduce weight to reach their destination safely. The cargo unloaded at Santos Brasil is then loaded onto flat-bottomed barges with fewer navigation restrictions, which also proceed to Manaus. The same operation occurs in reverse.

The first ship to perform this operation arrived at the terminal on the last day of September, transshipping around 300 full containers divided into two barges bound for Manaus. Another operation in the opposite direction is planned for this week. Cargo from Manaus will be transported by special vessels to the terminal, and a cabotage ship will be loaded for various other ports across the country.

The logistics in the northern region of Brazil are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the drought, which is typical for this period but arrived earlier and stronger this year and is expected to last another four months. Beyond the severe environmental issue, the main concern is the shortage of supplies in the region, affecting both the population and businesses in the Manaus Free Trade Zone.

The strategy to include Vila do Conde in this new logistics equation and use barges for part of the cargo was only possible due to the heavy investments made by Santos Brasil in expanding and modernizing its terminal in Pará.

In 2022, around R$ 39 million was invested in infrastructure improvements and area expansion, and an additional R$ 120 million is being used for expansion works and the purchase of new equipment for the terminal, aiming to increase its capacity by almost 40% from the current 217,000 TEUs per year to nearly 300,000 TEUs per year by 2025. According to Danilo Ramos, Commercial Director of Port Operations at Santos Brasil, the company operates with a long-term vision, always preparing for future demand. “That’s why, in cases of force majeure like this, we can provide high-quality support to our clients’ unexpected needs,” he said.

Tecon Vila do Conde is a container and project cargo river terminal with significant growth potential, driven by agribusiness and mining exports and equipment and machinery imports. It is strategically located in the Northern Arc, in the Amazon River delta, with extensive waterway access and proximity to major international maritime routes connecting to all continents.

Sharing is caring!