Measure takes effect in November 2024
TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, now has a new operational draft, increased from 12.1 meters to 12.6 meters at zero tide. The measure, approved by the Brazilian Navy, Pilots and Portos do Paraná, was approved on Monday (25) by means of ordinance no. 306/2024/APPA.
Increasing the draft, as the depth between the lowest point of a ship’s keel and the waterline is called, brings direct advantages for navigation and allows ships to carry more cargo. It is estimated that for every additional 10 centimeters of draft, ships will be able to operate with approximately 80 more TEUs (“20-foot equivalent unit”).
Carolina Merkle Brown, TCP’s shipping lines commercial manager, explains that “the new operational draft at the Port of Paranaguá represents an important milestone for the efficiency and safety of navigation, allowing the operation of larger ships. This advance not only optimizes port operations, but also has a direct impact on customers, offering greater capacity for exporting and importing cargo more quickly and competitively. With the increase in depth, the Port of Paranaguá strengthens its strategic position as a hub port of international relevance, becoming even more competitive on the global stage”.
TCP is currently the container terminal with the largest number of maritime services with regular calls in Brazil, with global coverage and cabotage, which expands transportation options and facilitates the flow of cargo to domestic and foreign markets. In addition, the increase in operational capacity also contributes to the optimization of logistics processes, reducing vessel waiting times and improving the fluidity of operations.
Rafael Stein Santos, TCP’s institutional and legal manager, points out that, in addition to the significant increase in capacity, the revision of the ordinance will allow greater flexibility for ships to access the Port of Paranaguá, because the new rule does not require a positive tide for ships up to 12.6 meters.
This improvement reinforces the importance of the Port of Paranaguá in foreign trade, especially on trade routes between Brazil and the world, and also generates significant benefits for the national economy, opening up new business opportunities and promoting growth in the sector.
Completion of rock removal works
The increase in the operational draft came about after the completion of the underwater rock removal works on a portion of the Palanganas Rocks, located in the region of the Port Access Channel. Approximately 20,000 cubic meters of rock were removed from the seabed and subsequently broken up and donated to municipalities along the coast of Paraná, which receive the material to be used in works of public interest, such as paving roads for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Regarding the project, Rafael Stein Santos emphasizes the importance of the work carried out by Portos do Paraná, in which TCP can contribute in the final phase: “The completion of the rock removal works and the result obtained show the commitment of the port authority, the maritime authority and the pilots, to the sector and to the region. The deepening of the access channel is yet to be expanded with the channel concession project and will be a catalyst for the local economy, because with the gain in operational capacity all the economic activities that are connected to the port, directly or indirectly, should grow. This will lead to more jobs, income and revenue for the municipality”.
