Santos is set to receive more ships with a new cruise terminal at Valongo

Splendida was the first MSC ship to say goodbye to Santos on Friday, heading towards the crossing to Europe (Alexsander Ferraz/AT Archive)

The transfer of the Giusfredo Santini Passenger Terminal from Outeirinhos to Valongo, as per the project under review at the National Agency for Waterway Transport (Antaq), is expected to result in more transatlantic ships embarking passengers at the Port of Santos. According to MSC Cruises' General Manager in Brazil, Adrian Ursilli, a modern infrastructure aligns with what the sector is seeking worldwide.

“We hope that the project moves forward because it will certainly be a motivator, a driver of the cruise industry in Brazil. It’s important to have good terminals and organized ports to accommodate the increasingly larger and more technological ships. The terminal project at Valongo will meet all the needs the sector requires”, explained Ursilli to A Tribuna.

The interview took place aboard the MSC Splendida, which left Santos on Friday heading to Europe. It was the company’s first ship to conclude the program for the season.

MSC’s General Manager mentioned that the cruise facilities need to keep pace with the increase in the number of passengers recorded in recent years. “We need to provide even more comfort, more security, and a better flow for guests embarking and disembarking. I say this without detracting from the current structure, which is good and satisfactory, but it does need improvements.”

Ursilli highlighted the energy transition as an important factor, as recently built ships are already fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). “And the new ships are capable of being connected to shore power, using electricity. Brazilian ports need to prepare and follow the evolution of the industry.”

He reminded that the Port of Santos is the main embarkation port for cruises in Brazil. “It represents over 60% of our operations and has strategic importance. We have a strong, long-standing partnership with Concais (the terminal administrator).”

The project at Valongo envisions the capacity for three ships to dock simultaneously. It will be located in front of the Valongo Park, near Warehouse 1, which has not yet been revitalized.

Funding The project at Valongo is expected to receive an initial investment of R\$ 1.2 billion from the future tenant of the Santos 10 Container Terminal (Tecon), located at the Saboó pier, according to the tender's forecast. This funding will be used for the construction of docking berths and a platform to support the new building, which will be constructed in the sea area.

Seaview will offer cruises of 6, 7, and 8 nights, with departures from Santos (Alexsander Ferraz/Arquivo AT)

Shipping company to bring three vessels for the season

MSC will have three ships for departures from the Port of Santos in the 2025/2026 season (Seaview, Preziosa, and Lirica), one less than in the current season (Grandiosa, Splendida, Seaview, and Armonia).

In the next season, in South America, Armonia will offer departures from Rio de Janeiro, and Fantasia will provide departures from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Season review MSC Cruises’ General Manager in Brazil, Adrian Ursilli, provided a review of the current season, which ends on April 18 with the departure of Seaview. The company has hosted 603,500 guests on cruises throughout South America.

An additional 62,000 Brazilians traveled aboard the company’s ships worldwide. There were over 120 cruises, departing from eight ports: Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Maceió, Itajaí, Paranaguá, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo.

“We are pleased and proud to be the only shipping company to produce numbers of this magnitude. This motivates us greatly. We are always bringing in new ships that stand out and that Brazilians recognize as meeting their needs, whether through the European, elegant, cosmopolitan decoration or the large leisure areas”, detailed Ursilli.

He emphasized that MSC strives to adapt to the needs of guests in the countries where it operates. “We are a global company, but we understand the needs and characteristics of the local market, like Brazil. Our captains and officers have known Brazil for many years of navigating here.”