Federal Government announces that STS10 in the Port of Santos will go to auction in 2025

The Federal Government confirmed on Tuesday (15) the auction of STS10 at the Port of Santos in 2025 (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT)

The Federal Government confirmed on Tuesday (15) the auction of STS10 at the Port of Santos in 2025. The area, located at the Saboó quay, will be designated for a large terminal, which is expected to increase the capacity of the largest port asset in the country by approximately 3 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), raising it from the current 6 million to 9 million TEU.

This news, one of the most anticipated by the port sector, was announced in a statement by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) to the press, after months of contradictions and unanswered questions regarding STS10.

“We are expanding the import and export capacity of the largest Brazilian port, ensuring improvements in operations and making our exported products even more competitive”, said the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, in the statement released.

MPor informed that it has sent an official letter to Infra S.A. (a public company controlled by the Union that plans projects) with guidelines for the concession, which foresee adaptations to the original model proposed five years ago. The adjusted study is expected to be submitted for analysis by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) later this year.

The updated model has been approved by MPor and the Civil House, whose Minister, Rui Costa, was in Santos last month for a confidential meeting on the topic, avoiding the press. The project establishes four ship berths, one more than the initial proposal, which will increase the container capacity in the Santos port complex by 50%.

Four berths? According to the original plan, the area designated for STS10 is 601,000 square meters (m²). A Tribuna questioned MPor whether the concession area would be expanded to accommodate the fourth berth, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Originally, the concession contract foresaw an investment of approximately R\$ 3.3 billion and a duration of 25 years. The bidding criteria would be based on the highest grant.

When questioned about the announcement, the President of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, was brief. “We are in agreement with this guidance and it will be done. The entire area of Saboó, previously reserved, will be used for the auction of STS10 as decided by the Ministry of Ports and the Civil House.”

Agility Port consultant and columnist for A Tribuna, Luis Cláudio Montenegro believes that the auction can be conducted in the short term. “This process is very well constructed. The adjustments needed are specific, and the auction can be conducted as early as next year, with great speed.”

When asked if the decision to auction STS10 was influenced by the sale of 48% of the controlling interest in Santos Brasil to Grupo CMA CGM last month, Montenegro prefers to emphasize the interest in the area. “An asset (STS10) as important as this, with no existing operation, cannot remain idle. A country that needs so much investment (in infrastructure) cannot afford to pass up.”

Stalled process The location is qualified under the Federal Government’s Investment Partnerships Program (PPI). According to the schedule published on the PPI website, the bidding process has been stalled since May 2022, when the public consultation was completed. The next step would be the TCU's statement to proceed with the preparation and publication of the bidding notice.

Controversy In August of this year, the President of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, stated that STS10 would not be viable before the construction of two viaducts in Alemoa, scheduled for 2028. This is because the works are necessary to avoid a logistical chaos with the increase in the number of trucks heading to the megaterminal. Port entities consulted by A Tribuna at that time agreed with Pomini. Yesterday, the Federal Government did not inform how it would prevent Santos from being congested by the increase in truck traffic.

Cruise terminal transfer would be maintained By confirming the auction of STS10, the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) maintained its position on the transfer of the Giusfredo Santini Maritime Passenger Terminal, managed by Concais, from Outeirinhos to the same area, located next to Valongo Park. MPor emphasizes that tourism activities will not hinder container operations at Saboó.

In a statement, the Federal Government informed that it will analyze with Infra S.A. the best model for the operation of the cruise terminal, considering the importance of the location, which currently receives about 1 million cruise passengers annually.

“It is a project built after much analysis, so that we could find the best solution for the Port of Santos and for the country”, said Minister Silvio Costa Filho.

Experts Regarding the integration of cruise and cargo activities in the same location, port consultant and A Tribuna columnist Luis Cláudio Montenegro comments that operations can occur without interference.

“The terminal will be installed in an appropriate area. Infra S.A. will work on a solution that generates a possibility of resources that could be acquired through grants and that can contribute to building a passenger terminal worthy of what the city deserves. ”

For teacher and coordinator of Architecture and Engineering at Esamc, Alessandro Lopes, who specializes in smart city projects, the coexistence of container and passenger terminals at the Port of Santos is “a fascinating and multifaceted paradigm, reflecting the challenges and opportunities of contemporary urbanization. ”

He believes that the integration of seemingly disparate port operations could be key to more sustainable and harmonious urban development. Lopes also notes that alternative schedules for port operations can be established to avoid overlap with tourist traffic, “mitigating congestion and improving the passenger experience.”