The new Antaq resolutions regarding inland navigation in the national territory determined new rules and passenger rights in transport operations and opened new guidelines regarding transport services provided by national companies.

During the issue of the Official Gazette (DOU) on Thursday (07/07), the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) published three new resolutions regarding inland navigation in Brazil. The first one deals with the guidelines for services of Services provided by companies in the country, while the second concerns the duties and rights of passengers in transport and, finally, the last deals with private transport operations to facilitate these activities.

Antaq's new resolution regarding transport services in inland navigation determines which companies will be able to carry out these activities in Brazil 

Antaq released new resolutions regarding inland navigation processes in Brazil, that is, those carried out in channels, rivers, lakes, coves, bays and creeks in the country. The first one is the resolution # 80, which deals with the criteria and procedures for granting transport services, homologation of vessels in the Mercante System and chartering of vessels in interstate and international inland navigation and between ports in Brazil. 

Thus, the new Antaq resolution determined that only companies licensed by the agency will be able to provide inland navigation operations services in Brazil. Thus, the agency offers licenses for services of: regular transport of passengers and vehicles in a longitudinal route; regular transport of passengers and vehicles on a crossing route (such as ferries); private transport of fractional loads; or private transport of cargo, people and vehicles.

The main objective of this resolution is to clarify the role of the agency in the regulation of these services and to facilitate the classification of transport companies. 

In addition, Antaq also determined with regard to transport services in inland navigation that it is sufficient to request homologation in the Mercante System from Antaq, presenting the documentation required in the standard, for companies that operate exclusively in the transport of cargo in intermunicipal or municipal routes in the indoor navigation. Finally, the transport services resolution states that the authorization of charter activities can only happen unilaterally by the agency. 

Find out about the Agency's new resolutions regarding passengers and private transport in inland navigation in Brazil 

In addition to Resolution No. 80, Antaq also published two other resolutions regarding inland navigation in Brazil. The first of these is that of # 81, which deals with passenger issues in transport services in the country.

Among the main points highlighted in the resolution are respect, accessibility and courtesy in serving passengers, adequate and clear information about the service provided and compliance with arrival and departure times. In this way, Antaq foresees an improvement in the service of transporting people in the country's inland navigation. 

The rights to benefits provided for in the law are also present in the resolution, which is the right of the child accompanied by the legal guardian to obtain a free ticket or a 50% discount, depending on the age of the child. Finally, elderly people aged over 60 are also entitled to a 50% discount on tickets, in addition to having the possibility of two places on the vessel, ensuring more comfort. 

The last resolution published was that of # 82, which ends the issue of inland navigation by dealing with private transport. She talks about the duties of the service provider, such as allowing and facilitating free access and the exercise of inspection by Antaq agents and observing the norms determined by the agency in the authorization term.