The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) approved, this Tuesday (19), the tender for the Waterway Access Channel to the Port of Itajaí, in Santa Catarina. With estimated investments of R$ 311 million, this will be the second tender for a public access channel in the country's history. Carried out by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) and the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), the bidding process represents another advance in the Federal Government's policy, which seeks to increase predictability and attract investments to the Brazilian port sector.
As a recommendation, the Court suggested improving the technical criteria of the project, especially regarding engineering solutions, as well as the mechanisms for validating the sharing of responsibilities, provided for in the project's risk matrix. After addressing the considerations presented, the tender notice will be forwarded to Antaq for the definition of the auction date, which is expected to occur in a specific block in the second half of the year.
For the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, the project represents another milestone for strengthening national port infrastructure. "We are continuing the plan to modernize Brazilian ports. Concessions like this reinforce the importance of ensuring predictability to attract more cargo, investments, and generate employment and income for the country," he highlighted.
The National Secretary of Ports, Alex Ávila, emphasized that the project consolidates the new model of waterway infrastructure management in Brazil, which began with the concession of the Paranaguá Channel. "This format allows for greater efficiency in channel management, increases navigation safety, and contributes to the increased competitiveness of the Port of Itajaí," he stated.
Channel Concession
With planned investments of R$ 311 million, the project foresees the concession of the waterway access channel to the Port of Itajaí (SC), for the expansion, maintenance, and exploration of the infrastructure. The access will have the capacity to handle increasing movement, estimated at 3.43 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually at the end of the contract.
The channel, characterized as a wet area delimited by georeferenced coordinates, will be granted for a period of 25 years. The contract includes periodic dredging, continuous maintenance, nautical signaling, and integrated waterway traffic management.
The adopted model seeks to ensure operational predictability, greater navigation safety, and increased capacity to receive larger vessels.
