Docking of the San Marco Maersk container ship inaugurates a new phase for the Terminal
Last Friday (13), TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, welcomed the ship San Marco Maersk to its quay. With a length of 333 meters (LOA), a width of 48 meters (beam) and a capacity to carry 9,669 TEUs (equivalent to a 20-foot container), this is the first vessel to use the new maximum operational draft of 12.60 meters.
The increase in draft (depth between the lowest point of a vessel’s keel and the waterline) from 12.10 meters to 12.60 meters brings direct benefits for shipping, such as increased transport capacity on vessels and greater safety in port operations. It is estimated that with 50 centimeters more draft, approximately 400 additional TEUs of full containers can be transported per ship.
Carolina Merkle Brown, TCP’s commercial manager for shipowners, says that “the berthing of a ship using the new operational draft marks the beginning of an unprecedented phase for the Terminal, which strengthens its strategic position as an even more competitive port hub on the global stage. With greater cargo transportation capacity on the ships arriving at TCP, customers are directly impacted, as they can count on more agile and efficient operations to import and export their goods.”
Another benefit of expanding the operational draft is the optimization of logistics processes, reducing vessel waiting times and improving the fluidity of operations.
TCP is currently the container terminal with the largest number of maritime services in Brazil: there are 25 regular weekly calls, with global coverage and cabotage, which expands transportation options and facilitates the flow of cargo to domestic and foreign markets.
The San Marco Maersk container ship is part of the Samba service, which connects the east coast of South America to Europe, passing through Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Morocco, England, Holland, Germany and Belgium.
Expansion of draft and impact on the local economy
TCP now has a new operational draft, increased from 12.1 meters to 12.6 meters at zero tide, following the revision of Ordinance No. 306/2024/APPA, approved at the end of November by Portos do Paraná, after a favorable opinion from the Brazilian Navy and Pilotage.
“With the larger draft, we can receive heavier ships, carrying out maneuvers and operations more safely and efficiently in the Port of Paranaguá. In addition, the reduction in waiting time for berthing and unberthing offers a financial advantage to customers, who can operate a larger volume of goods in a single trip more quickly,” explained the CEO of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia.
Rafael Stein, TCP’s institutional and legal manager, comments that “the deepening of the access channel is a catalyst for the local economy. With the gain in operational capacity, all the economic activities that are linked to the port, directly or indirectly, should grow. The efforts made, especially by the Port Authority, to improve access to the port are fundamental for TCP to remain competitive.”
The increase in the operational draft came about after the conclusion of the underwater demolition work on a portion of the Palanganas Rocks, located in the Port Access Channel region. Approximately 20,000 cubic meters of rock were removed from the seabed.
