During the 12th Hidrovia Já Seminar, promoted by the Association of Engineers and Architects of Santos (AEAS) on Wednesday (21) in Santos (SP), Eliezé Bulhões, Director of Waterway Management at the Ministry of Ports and Airports, highlighted the Ministry's actions to strengthen waterway infrastructure, improve boarding and disembarking conditions, and ensure navigation safety.
Between 2023 and 2025, the Ministry allocated R$ 1.297 billion in payments for waterway infrastructure, with R$ 529.78 million in 2025. The participation occurred via videoconference, with the lecture "The 900 days of the National Waterway Secretariat."
The resources covered the construction, operation, and maintenance of Small Public Port Facilities (IP4), the operation and recovery of locks, and maintenance dredging. Among the deliveries are the IP4s of Barcelos, Envira, Itacoatiara, and Parintins in Amazonas, and Juruti and Oriximiná in Pará, which provide structure for the boarding and disembarking of passengers and goods.
"For those who depend on rivers, waterway infrastructure is part of daily life: it's how food arrives, production goes to markets, and people access services. Our job is to improve the conditions of these displacements, with works and maintenance that meet the needs of each region," stated Eliezé Bulhões.
The director also addressed the operation of locks, which allow vessels to overcome differences in river levels, and dredging, which removes sediments to maintain navigation conditions. The actions also include cartography, with information to guide routes, and the planning of interventions in waterways.
In the area of safety, the director discussed the National Waterway Cartography Project (ProCartHidro), aimed at the continuous updating of nautical charts that guide navigators. The initiative foresees a partnership with the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Brazilian Navy, with initial operations on the Madeira, Amazonas, Tocantins, and Paraguay rivers.
The proposal articulates the production of data by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit), with the support of contracted companies, with the homologation and updating of charts by the maritime authority. This information helps navigators monitor changes in channels, especially in stretches subject to groundings and operational restrictions.
The lecture also covered the evaluation of 12 navigable waterways, considering infrastructure, navigation aids, and social, economic, and environmental aspects. The diagnosis guides the identification of intervention needs, such as improvements in signaling, cartography, and river monitoring.
The seminar brought together specialists, authorities, and representatives from the port sector to discuss the transport of passengers and cargo and the integration between the municipalities of Baixada Santista.
