Special committee analyzing PL 733 to visit Asian ports

Proposal to amend port legislation remains far from consensus; some advocate for changes only to certain aspects of the current 2013 law (Maurício Martins/AT)

The special committee of the Chamber of Deputies analyzing Bill (PL) 733/2025, which reviews the Port Legal Framework, will visit the ports of Busan, in South Korea, and Hong Kong, in China, both global references in maritime transport, next week. The Asia Mission will take place from Sunday through the 7th and includes meetings at Brazilian embassies.

The delegation is composed of 19 members, including federal deputies and representatives from industry institutions and private port companies. According to the Federal Chamber, the members of the special committee depart today and are scheduled to return to Brazil on the 10th.

The initiative comes from the president of the special committee, Federal Deputy Murilo Galdino (Republicanos-PB), and the rapporteur, Federal Deputy Arthur Maia (União-BA), who formally requested the technical visits. The mission receives technical and logistical support from the Frente Parlamentar de Portos e Aeroportos (FPPA) of the National Congress and from the Instituto Brasileiro de Infraestrutura (IBI).

Seeking a model “The ports of Busan and Hong Kong are examples of modern management, technological integration, and logistical efficiency. This experience is extremely valuable for the modernization model we intend to implement in Brazil through PL 733/2025, making our ports more competitive and better prepared for the future of global trade”, stated Arthur Maia to A Tribuna .

Mariana Lamoso, Project Manager at IBI and a member of the delegation, said that “the ports of Busan and Hong Kong provide valuable benchmarks for improving Brazilian ports and for PL 733/2025. In Busan, notable features include advanced automation and digitalization, integrated governance between the public and private sectors, multimodal logistical integration, and a strong commitment to sustainability and clean energy. In Hong Kong, the model of efficient private concessions, customs digitalization, the use of AI, IoT, and blockchain, and port-city integration stand out as examples of modern and competitive management.”

Mariana noted that “these practices can inspire PL 733/2025 in creating a more innovative, sustainable, and transparent regulatory framework capable of attracting investment, reducing logistical costs, and improving the efficiency of Brazilian ports.”

Another member of the group, Anderson Pomini, President of the Autoridade Portuária de Santos (APS), stated that “these are major ports with high cargo volumes, and we will be able to observe practices, equipment, and especially technologies we intend to implement at the Port of Santos. This exchange of knowledge is essential for the continuous improvement of our operations.”

Pomini added that “from a legal standpoint, these countries have different laws and regulatory frameworks, but we aim to better understand all aspects so that we can assess what might be applicable in this process of improving Brazil’s port legislation.”

Due to the trip, the public hearings scheduled for yesterday and next week will not take place. The next hearing of the special committee is set for November 12, on the topic “Rules for dispute resolution and the creation of the Chamber of Self-Regulation and Dispute Resolution for the Port and Maritime Sector.”

Schedule On Sunday, the delegation will be in Seoul, capital of South Korea, for a dinner focused on “aligning strategic themes of interest to the mission.” On Monday, they will visit the Port of Busan, and on Tuesday a meeting is scheduled at the Embassy of Brazil in Seoul.

On the 5th, the group will travel to China. On the 6th, a meeting will take place at the Consulate-General of Brazil in Hong Kong. Finally, on the 7th, members of the committee will visit the Port of Hong Kong.

Origin of the proposal Bill (PL) 733/2025, authored by Leur Lomanto Júnior (União-BA), reproduces the draft prepared by the commission of jurists (Ceportos) established by the Federal Chamber in 2024, which worked for several months to propose a new Ports Law.

A special committee of deputies was installed on July 9 in the Chamber of Deputies to analyze and issue an opinion on the bill. The work plan was presented on August 6, outlining 11 public hearings and technical visits to ports, including Santos. However, that number is expected to increase.

The bill is subject to conclusive consideration by the committee members — that is, once approved by the group, it may proceed directly to the Senate without a vote in the Chamber plenary. A plenary vote will only occur if a motion is filed by one-tenth of the deputies (51 members) and approved by the House.

In that case, the bill would be voted on in a single round, by a simple majority of the plenary. If approved by both Houses and sanctioned by the Presidency of the Republic, the measure will replace the 2013 law.