Incheon, a multipurpose port in South Korea

The variety of cargoes handled and water volume control for enhanced ship efficiency were greatly appreciated during the visit by members of the International Porto & Mar Mission Brazil – South Korea 2024, promoted by Grupo Tribuna, to the Port of Incheon in the Seoul metropolitan area on this Monday. The bus journey took almost an hour, shorter than traveling from São Paulo to Santos.

"South Korea has understood, facing its land challenges, the importance of investing in port infrastructure. The Port of Incheon is a significant demonstration of the importance of having a multipurpose port, handling general cargo focused on imports, but also with cargoes geared towards exports, which is a country's vocation", says Elias Júnior, secretary of Port Affairs and Employment of Santos.

Sergio Aquino, president of the National Federation of Port Operations (Fenop), noted that not everything about ports is technology or containers, something that was strongly evident during the visit to the Incheon complex. "We must understand that in the world there are not only automated container terminals. There are still ports handling various cargoes, which is what we have seen here", he observes. "General cargo needs to continue", he adds.

In terms of container handling, there was a 10% increase in Incheon in one year, comparing April of this year with the same period last year. Bulk cargo saw almost 30% growth. The export of vehicles drew attention, with cars from South Korean manufacturers and companies that have built factories in the Asian country, forming a business model that generates wealth for koreans.

Locks

The group visited the Port of Incheon on a vessel that includes an auditorium, something common in developed countries. "How interesting it would be to have this in the Ports of Santos and Rio de Janeiro. I have seen ships like this in the ports of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Kent (England). That's the first lesson I'm taking back to Brazil", comments Wilson Lima Filho, director of the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (Antaq).

At the site, water volume is controlled. Tide variations can reach 10 meters. Therefore, locks operate on one side, and areas function as large reservoirs on the other, receiving all water, which can also be pumped. These are called locks.

"We saw a ship with the capacity to carry 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles. And this can take up to five, six days. This (the lock system) should increase loading productivity. Imagine if the ship had to go up and down all day? So, for that amount of vehicles, it's an excellent solution", praises Angelino Caputo, executive director of the Brazilian Association of Terminals and Customs Warehouses (Abtra).

Murillo Barbosa, CEO of the Association of Private Terminals (ATP), also praised the system. "They maintain water circulation. They do not exchange it. And Panama is paying the price because it is losing water, reducing its operating pace because they do not have closed lock systems", he compares.

Integration

Port-City integration was also highlighted by Sergio Aquino in Incheon. "It's an old port, but it's entirely surrounded by the city. There are residential buildings of high quality, and there are also activities, showing good coexistence of the port with the city. We also need to value that".

The group that is part of the mission visited the Port of Incheon on a vessel that includes an auditorium, something common in developed countries (Rodrigo Nardelli/TV Tribuna)

Similar to Santos

The administration model of the Port of Incheon is similar to the Port of Santos. The port complex, along with the city, is part of a revitalization project that, once completed, aims to generate 20,000 jobs. It is ongoing, and the idea is to transform the region into a tourist complex, with the construction of a resort and various activities. Plans and areas that, proportionally speaking, resemble what is being done with Parque Valongo in Santos.

According to Sergio Aquino, president of the National Federation of Port Operations (Fenop), the symbolism for comparison lies in the concepts, remembering precisely that financial, economic viability and activity must be given.

"We need to restore the viability of the Historic Center as a strong and viable instrument. For this, it is essential that the region has adequate connection with the municipality, with the urban area. For this, we will have to resolve issues, perhaps in the medium and long term, such as involving truck circulation", he says.

Aquino recalls hearing from experts during meetings at the Santos City Hall that without resolving truck issues, there can be no revitalization and without that there is no recovered center.