Port of Santos begins maintenance on navigation channel with set deadline

New contract stipulates that sediment removal services will cover the entire navigation channel (Alexsander Ferraz/AT)

The Santos Port Authority (APS) began maintenance dredging on the access channel of the Santos pier on Monday (11). The operation, which will continue until January 2025, will cover the entire section of the Port, from Barra to Alemoa. The service involves removing sediments to maintain a depth of 15 meters and ensure navigation fluidity and safety.

The operation will be conducted by the company Van Oord, under a contract worth R\$ 277.2 million, valid for two years, renewed with APS last December. The agreement was originally set to expire in March this year, but the renewal was expedited.

The initial contract between APS and Van Oord was signed in 2021. According to an excerpt in the Union Official Journal (DOU), the amendment reflects a 32% decrease due to a revision of the estimated dredging volumes. Furthermore, the contract now has a new baseline date of December 2023, with the amount adjusted from R\$ 371 million to R\$ 277.2 million.

According to APS, the contract renewal includes an early termination clause, allowing cancellation in case the dredging service is granted to the private sector through a public-private partnership (PPP) or another arrangement.

The new contract specifies that sediment removal services will be carried out along the entire internal navigation channel of the organized port area.

The operation The sediment removal is being conducted using the advanced TSHD Utrecht dredger, which has a capacity of 18,300 cubic meters (m³).

According to APS, the Port is located in an estuary that receives a significant amount of sediment, which can cause siltation and hinder navigation, especially due to rain and sea conditions.

APS President Anderson Pomini stated that the Santos pier is not experiencing a loss of draft but emphasized that dredging is essential to maintain the competitiveness of the Santos port complex.

Fishermen To inform local fishermen about the maintenance dredging, the Santos Port Authority held an online presentation on Monday (11) for the community, led by APS's Sustainability Manager, Bruno Takano.

The meeting lasted approximately two hours, during which Takano highlighted the importance of the operation for ensuring navigation safety and operational efficiency, as well as the socio-environmental actions aimed at preserving marine species and minimizing impact on communities.

The removed material will be deposited at the Ocean Disposal Polygon (PDO). APS stated that monitoring will be conducted to identify potential changes in sediment quality or contaminants, to prevent any environmental damage or risk to the Laje de Santos Marine State Park.