Portuguese 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
0 comments 
Work on the navigation channel of the Port of Santos involves dredging, a multimillion-dollar contract, and operational changes to accommodate larger vessels, amid discussions about concession and new infrastructure projects in the port complex.
The Port Authority of Santos has authorized the deepening dredging of the navigation channel of the Port of Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, to increase the depth from 15 to 16 meters.
The service order is scheduled to be signed this Wednesday (17), as part of a contract worth R$ 617.9 million signed with Jan de Nul do Brasil, the company responsible for executing the services.
The contract is valid for five years and includes the deepening dredging of the channel, as well as the maintenance of the new draft for two years.
-
Brazil focuses on Chile after a $44 million project reveals an unexpected solution to avoid billion-dollar losses in renewable energy, while 20.6% of solar and wind generation is already being wasted.
-
Peter Andrews was reported by his neighbors, lost the farm to the bank, and saw his marriage fall apart, but the method that the government rejected for 30 years was recognized by the UN as one of the five agricultural models.
-
A billionaire could buy a huge yacht, but chose a 17,000-acre farm in Australia for $10 million to transform former pastures into a nature reserve, save a historic forest, and provide shelter for endangered species.
-
While ships burn diesel even when docked, a floating platform with hydrogen promises to bring clean energy to the port without waiting years for construction.
According to APS, the channel has remained at a depth of 15 meters for 14 years, a condition that limits some operations involving larger vessels.
With the work, the port authority states that the Port of Santos will be able to increase the capacity of waterway access and reduce dependence on tidal windows for certain maneuvers.
The change is also expected to allow the entry of larger ships with more cargo, according to an assessment released by the port administration.
Dredging changes navigation conditions in the Port of Santos
Dredging involves the removal of sediments from the bottom of the navigation channel to increase the depth available to vessels.
In the case of Santos, the service was contracted to bring the channel to a level of 16 meters, which should increase the authorized operational draft in the port complex.
The president of APS, Anderson Pomini, stated in a video sent to the press that the port has taken “another important and decisive step towards the future, planned for 25 years ahead.”
The statement was made in the context of the contract signing and the preparation for issuing the service order.
Pomini also said that larger vessels will be able to access the port “at any time, regardless of the tide, and with full cargo.”
According to the director, the new depth level should bring more safety, efficiency, and predictability to operations, as well as reduce logistical costs.
APS’s assessment is related to a common operational limitation in ports with high cargo movement.
When the channel does not offer sufficient depth at all times, larger ships may rely on high tide or need to operate with load restrictions.
The deepening aims to reduce this type of constraint on maritime access to the Port of Santos.
Work of R$ 617.9 million will be executed by Jan de Nul
The execution of the services will be handled by Jan de Nul do Brasil, the Brazilian branch of the Belgian group Jan De Nul.
The company operates in dredging, maritime engineering, offshore energy, and port infrastructure.
The contracted amount, of R$ 617.9 million, includes the set of services planned by APS.
The contract takes place amid the port authority’s effort to adapt the navigation channel to the increase in the size of ships used in international maritime transport.
With 24.6 kilometers in length, the navigation channel concentrates the flow of entry and exit of vessels serving the terminals of the Santos complex.
Through it pass ships linked to container operations, solid bulk, liquid bulk, general cargo, and other port movements.
According to APS, the deepening should enhance the competitiveness of the Port of Santos in foreign trade.
The justification presented by the port authority is that larger vessels can transport more cargo per trip, which tends to improve operational productivity and reduce restrictions associated with draft.
TCU authorized resumption of the dredging bidding
The advancement of the contract occurred after analysis by the Federal Court of Accounts.
In May 2026, the TCU plenary revoked the precautionary measure that had suspended the bidding for the deepening dredging of the Port of Santos channel.
The competition had been halted in January, following a representation by a disqualified consortium.
The case involved the Consórcio Santos Dragagem, led by Etesco Construções e Comércio, with participation from Neptune Brasil and the Chinese company Chec Dredging.
According to information published about the process, the TCU understood that the initial reason for disqualification would not be sufficient, but maintained the imposition of reclassification due to a later change in the group’s composition, after Neptune’s departure.
With the decision, APS was able to proceed with the bidding result, and Jan de Nul remained in the process.
The tribunal also informed the port authority of the need to adopt corrective and preventive measures in future tenders, due to inconsistencies pointed out in the formal justification for disqualification.
This history explains the resumption of the contracting schedule.
The dredging had been interrupted by administrative questions and only advanced after the precautionary measure was revoked by the TCU.
Canal concession remains under discussion at Antaq
The deepening to 16 meters also appears in the debate about the concession of the access channel to the Port of Santos.
The model under discussion by the National Waterway Transport Agency provides for service obligations and private investments over a long-term contract.
In April 2026, Antaq postponed the public hearing on the canal concession, which was scheduled in the contribution receipt process.
The agency informed that a new date would be announced later and extended the deadline for sending contributions, subsidies, and suggestions until July 1, 2026.
Before the signing of the dredging contract, APS had already stated that the deepening services should not wait for the conclusion of the concession process.
The port authority’s argument is that the port’s operational demand exists at the current moment, while the concession still depends on formal stages, analysis of contributions, and definition of the final model.
The concession project involves an estimated financial flow of R$ 23.4 billion over 25 years, with the possibility of extension up to 70 years, according to the information available in the original text.
The minimum investment expected by the eighth year of the contract is R$ 688.1 million.
Port of Santos seeks to reduce restrictions on waterway access
The Port of Santos is the largest port complex in Latin America and operates different types of cargo, such as solid bulk, liquid bulk, general loose cargo, and containerized cargo.
Due to its participation in Brazilian foreign trade, changes in waterway access affect shipowners, terminals, logistics operators, importers, and exporters.
Dredging is part of a set of infrastructure actions under discussion or execution in the Santos complex.
Besides the channel, APS mentions land access projects and the immersed Santos-Guarujá tunnel as initiatives related to the expansion of the port’s operational capacity.
Commenting on the contract, Pomini associated dredging with this set of works.
According to the president of APS, the service, alongside the tunnel and access points, should contribute to the sustainable growth of the Port of Santos.
The port administration expects that the new depth will increase the predictability of operations without reducing the safety parameters of navigation.
For port users, the main expected change is in the scheduling of berthings and departures, especially in operations carried out by larger ships.
With the channel designed for 16 meters, the Port of Santos is undertaking a project aimed at expanding maritime access and reducing restrictions related to draft.
The next step will be the execution of the contracted services and the technical monitoring of the maintenance of the new standard throughout the period specified in the contract.
Be the first to react!