Ports Law receives substitute bill to strengthen the Port Guard

Document highlights that the Port Guard currently plays an essential role in protecting people, property, and operations in brazilian ports (Vanessa Rodrigues/ AT/ Archive)

The Special Committee of the Chamber of Deputies analyzing Bill (PL) 733/2025, which proposes a revision of Brazilian port legislation, has received a substitute text that establishes regulations for the Port Guard. The document was submitted on Wednesday (October 8) during another public hearing of the committee, held in Brasília. The substitute amends the section of the bill addressing port security — the central topic of Wednesday’s hearing.

The substitute was signed by the Associação Brasileira de Entidades Portuárias e Hidroviárias (Abeph) and the national federations of Operações Portuárias (Fenop), Portuários (FNP), Estivadores (FNE), and Conferentes e Consertadores de Carga e Descarga, Vigias Portuários, Trabalhadores de Bloco, Arrumadores e Amarradores de Navios (Fenccovib).

According to the document, accessed by A Tribuna, the proposal is the result of a consensus among representative entities of port authorities, operators, and workers, coordinated by the Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos (MPor) through the Secretaria Nacional de Portos (SNP).

Discussions on the matter lasted approximately one year. The text advocates for the recognition and strengthening of the Port Guard and the preservation of port authorities’ autonomy in managing security at the ports.

The document underscores that the Port Guard, focused on institutional and asset protection, plays an essential role in safeguarding people, property, and operations, and in implementing the security policies defined by the Comissão Nacional de Segurança Pública nos Portos, Terminais e Vias Navegáveis da Polícia Federal (Conportos). It also highlights that the Port Guard complies with the international standards of the ISPS Code and with the National Port Security Plan.

During the session, Gilmara Temóteo, Executive Director of Abeph, emphasized that port authorities require administrative and budgetary autonomy to respond quickly, contract services, form partnerships, and resolve issues with port operators and leaseholders. “Security cannot depend on centralized bureaucratic procedures. Decentralization allows ports to be agile, efficient, and safe”, she stated.

Israel Ângelo Santos de Aguiar, President of the Associação dos Guardas Portuários da Bahia and representative of the Conselho Nacional das Representações da Guarda Portuária (Congport), highlighted the importance of the category’s preventive security work at ports. “We are talking about preventive work because ports are the gateway to our nation. Defending the ports is both urgent and necessary. In this context, we bring forth the need to strengthen the Guard and request that the text be incorporated into the bill.”

Dejacy da Conceição, President of the Associação Nacional da Guarda Portuária do Brasil (ANGPB), noted that port security involves integrated actions among multiple complementary agencies. “The Port Guard is not taking anyone’s place. Alongside the Polícia Federal and Receita Federal, these agents perform a coordinated security effort at the ports.”

On the other hand, Marcelo João da Silva, Federal Police delegate and President of Conportos, who was also representing the Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública, emphasized that the Port Guard cannot become a federal port police force and must rely on the support of the Federal Police. “Public security at ports is the responsibility of the Federal Police”, he stated.

Silva also stressed that the new port legal framework must establish strict rules to combat organized crime and international drug trafficking. “This is a threat that did not exist in 2013 (when Law 12.815, currently in force, was enacted), but that is now very present at ports and in surrounding cities.”

What the text says The substitute text for Bill (PL) 733/2025, submitted yesterday to the deputies of the Special Committee, establishes that the Port Authority will be solely responsible for maintaining and supervising the Port Guard, composed of agents hired through public examination. The proposal defines the Port Guard's security and inspection duties within port areas, including access control, asset protection, and the prevention of unlawful activities.

The document permits the complementary support of private security services, but under the direct coordination of the Port Guard. The text also creates the Port Security Unit, aimed at integrating the planning and execution of security actions. The goal is to enhance the efficiency and autonomy of port administrations.