Discounts on fees at the Port of Santos encourage cruises along the São Paulo Coast

According to port administration, discounts for cruise ships were renewed and have been in effect since the 17th of the last month (Alexsander Ferraz/AT Archive)

A discount of up to 60% on port fees for cruise ships is seen as an incentive for companies using the Port of Santos’ facilities, according to the sector. The 2024/2025 season begins on Friday.

For the president of the Brazilian Association of Cruise Lines (Clia Brazil), Marco Ferraz, the “initiative aligns with our goal of promoting a more competitive and accessible environment for maritime tourism, expanding the presence of cruises in the region, and establishing the Port of Santos as one of the main maritime tourism hubs in South America.”

Ferraz also notes that incentives for sustainable development through rate adjustments bring “positive impacts to the local economy, employment, and international visibility for the destination.”

In a statement, MSC Cruises also supports the renewal of the tariff discounts. “We hope that actions like this can continue to develop, including other ports and operational services, in order to make the Brazilian market more competitive and attractive for cruise operations.”

The company notes that there are still challenges to be overcome and bottlenecks that hinder the expansion of cruise operations in Brazil, “such as limited infrastructure and high operational costs, among others; and initiatives like this should serve as an example for other areas, services, and ports, aiming to create better conditions for the sustainable continuous development of the sector in the country and the region.”

In a statement, Concais, the lessee of the Giusfredo Santini Passenger Terminal, states that, although the incentive does not impact its operations, it reinforces “its commitment to promoting maritime tourism in our region, supporting and assisting authorities, shipowners, and all involved in the cruise segment.”

Costa Cruises and the National Center for Transatlantic Navigation (Centronave) were also consulted on the measures, but chose not to comment.

How it works The Port Authority of Santos (APS) renewed its tariff discount policies for transatlantic vessels, valid for the 2024/2025 season. The measure was implemented at the Port of Santos in December 2023, with a one-year validity.

According to the port administration, discounts for cruise ships were renewed through Ordinance 144, dated October 4, 2024, for a 12-month period, and have been in effect since the 17th of the last month.

The discounts, which can reach up to 60%, will be calculated based on the number of passengers and per shipowner at the end of the season. No discount will be applied to shipowners with fewer than 10,400 passengers in Santos during the period.

Season The 2024/2025 cruise season at the Port of Santos will begin next Friday and will extend until April 20, 2025. The Giusfredo Santini Passenger Terminal will receive 14 ships, making 152 stops, including seven regular vessels and seven carrying transiting foreign tourists.

Among the ships are MSC's Seaview (the most frequent, with 40 visits), Grandiosa, Armonia, Orchestra, and Splendida. Costa Cruises will bring the Costa Pacifica and Diadema. Seven other transit-only ships with foreign tourists will also stop in Santos.

The passenger terminal expects to handle around one million passengers between embarkations, disembarkations, and transit tourists, reaching this milestone for the second consecutive season.

The arrival of the Seaview, with a capacity of over 5,000 passengers, on Friday will mark the start of the season. The last ship to dock will be Costa Diadema, on April 20, 2025.

Freighters also benefit Discounts for green cargo ships have been in effect since December 2023, and the management of the Port of Santos expects to renew them next month. In this case, the discount is based on efficiency and sustainability indicators.

The measurement of the energy matrix diversification index must be submitted to the APS by December 31, so it can be considered starting March 1, 2025.

“This initiative responds to the request of the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho”, said APS President Anderson Pomini, explaining that the incentive was mandated by the Federal Government to generate employment and income in the region.

According to the Port Authority, the tariff discounts were authorized by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), “aiming to encourage the rational use of port infrastructure, with the objective of elevating the Port of Santos to international standards of quality and safety, in alignment with the company’s strategy.”

Regarding green ships, the management stated that the incentive contributes to the improvement of port areas’ quality, reduces costs, and allows for better allocation of resources. Additionally, it aligns with the “APS Strategic Initiative to monitor and minimize the impact of port activities on climate change, promote policies to improve energy efficiency, encourage new energy sources, and adapt to climate changes.”

Use of infrastructure For use of the access channel, discounts of 4%, 8%, or 12% may apply, depending on the score the vessel receives from the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), whose criteria are based on lower greenhouse gas emissions, zero carbon emission goals, and the use of renewable energy.

Regarding efficiency and sustainability, the discount applies to charges for the use of port land infrastructure, set by ton of cargo handled or per container moved.

The APS Port Efficiency and Sustainability Index (IESP) considers items of contractual regularity, operational, and environmental criteria.