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MV Haidar ship remains submerged in the port of Vila do Conde, in Barcarena, ten years after sinking with five thousand cattle and 700 tons of oil, while communities still report economic losses
Ten years after sinking in the port of Vila do Conde, in Barcarena, Pará, the MV Haidar remains submerged with five thousand dead cattle and 700 tons of oil, leaving environmental and social impacts.
MV Haidar remains at the same point of the shipwreck
The Lebanese-flagged ship sank in the port of Vila do Conde while en route to Venezuela. As of the end of 2025, the vessel remained at the same location where it sank.
The port is part of the maritime route and is among the country’s main ports, connecting the North region to abroad. Nevertheless, the case remains unresolved a decade later.
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Since 2015, several attempts have been made to remove the vessel from the riverbed. All have failed, and the MV Haidar remains monitored.
The Ministry of Ports and Airports informed that it is evaluating which type of contract is most suitable. The ministry did not provide a deadline.
Beach lost tourism and commerce
With the shipwreck, the dead animals reached Vila do Conde beach, 4 kilometers from where the ship sank. The scene marked the community.
Before the accident, the beach thrived on tourism and received 600 to 800 visitors per weekend. Riverine communities also came to sell fish, shrimp, and açaí.
The fear of contamination drove away the public, and the area’s economy never recovered. A decade later, the beach is described as a ghost of its former self.
Henrique Carvalho, president of the Association of Beach Vendors and Merchants of Vila do Conde, recalls that there were about 15 stalls operating in the region.
Communities felt loss of income
Impacted families received compensation after an agreement with the ship’s owner company. For residents, the amount did not compensate for the losses caused by the shipwreck.
Henrique Carvalho states that each person from Vila do Conde received R$ 3,290. In more distant communities, the amount was lower. For him, the merchants’ income was higher.
Farmer Maria Andreia dos Santos says she survived by trading on the beach. She supplied coconuts to the beach vendors, and buyers would come to the community.
Former rural producer João Dias dos Santos, president of the Acuí community, recalls that residents used to take fish and shrimp from the stream for their own consumption. With the contamination, this routine was affected.
Social and environmental damages
Reports from environmental agencies confirmed environmental and social damages. Traditional communities that depended on agriculture and fishing were directly affected by the sinking of the MV Haidar.
The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office states that the ship no longer poses a contamination risk. Nevertheless, the case keeps the lack of environmental licensing in the municipality under discussion.
Federal Prosecutor Bruno Araújo Valente states that Barcarena’s industrial district still lacks environmental licensing. He also mentions the absence of a broader program to monitor air and water.
Authorities speak of monitoring
The Pará Docks Company informed that the shipwreck did not compromise the continuity of operations at the Port of Vila do Conde, which continues to function normally, despite the berth being closed.
CDP declared that it adopted operational management measures to maintain port activity and reduce economic impacts. The company states that the ship remains monitored and without active environmental risk.
Regarding the removal, CDP states that the matter is still under negotiation with competent bodies, considering technical, legal, and environmental aspects.
The Barcarena Environmental Secretariat informed that it carries out inspection, monitoring, and dialogue with authorities to ensure environmental protection.
Semas-PA declared that it conducts constant inspections, issues infraction notices when irregularities are identified, and validates reports sent by companies in the Industrial District.
With information from G1.
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