The Justice of Ipojuca (PE) scheduled the auction of the internal pier of the Port of Suape for the 21st of June

In order to comply with the judicial recovery plan prepared by the creditors of the Atlântico Sul Shipyard, located in the port of Suape, the Justice Department of Ipojuca (PE) scheduled the auction for the development's internal pier for the next June 21st. The dispute is open to companies that wish to compete, but will have to duel with the giants Tecon and Maersk. The first, from the Philippines, already operates a public terminal in the organized port, linked to the control of Union rules. The second, Danish, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, has already presented a proposal of R$ 895 million. It is also expected to generate jobs.

Everything indicates that the Atlântico Sul Shipyard, in the port of Suape, will accept the proposal offered by Maersk through the APM Treminals, as it is in judicial recovery, selling assets to pay creditors. Thus, new investments and job opportunities should appear, although it is not known exactly how much for the time being.

Another positive point, seen by specialists in the shipbuilding industry, is that a new owner of the space will be able to promote improvements in the structure and systems of container loading and unloading operations at the Port of Suape. The development suffers from the highest tariffs in the sector globally, precisely because of the prices charged by Tecon Suape, the current operator of the container terminal at the port in Pernambuco.

According to the National Agency for Waterway Transport (Antaq), Filipinos charge a fee for handling cargo at port terminals (Terminal Handling Charge) highest in Brazil. According to Antaq, a 20-foot container from the shipowner CMA CGM in the Port of Suape costs US$ 308 in THC, while that of Santos (SP) costs US$ 185 and in Pecém (CE), the value is US$ 195.

President of the Port of Suape says that Tecon's participation in the auction "will be bad for Pernambuco"

Tecon's possibility to participate in the auction was already taken for granted by businessmen operating in Pernambuco. But there are regrets. The president of the Port of Suape, Roberto Gusmão, confirmed the participation of Filipinos in the event to compete with Maersk's proposal.

In an interview with an important news blog about politics and the local economy, Gusmão said that Tecon's participation in the dispute over the port – which is already the most expensive in Brazil – will be negative for the State due to the monopoly that already exists.

“Tecon Suape is qualifying and it will be bad if they participate. It will be exchanging six for half a dozen”, said the president of the Port of Suape. It turns out that if the Filipinos win, they will give up the public terminal to have a private terminal. Therefore, they would probably abandon the public terminal. “We will be obliged to carry out a new tender”, explained Gusmão.

The Atlântico Sul Shipyard, in the Port of Suape, is managed by the contractors Queiroz Galvão and Camargo Correa. Companies aim to pay off debts with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, through the sale of assets. O BNDES is the biggest creditor of the old naval industry project.

In 2021, the group of creditors tried to sell the areas of the block development, but no interested parties emerged. The new strategy is to sell in parts. The sides received a proposal from Maersk, but the center will remain available to contractors with ship repair activities.

The minimum amount for the acquisition of the full Pre-Constituted UPI B is R$ 895.000.000,00 (eight hundred and ninety-five million); UPI- B Cais Sul is R$ 300.000.000,00 (three hundred million reais).

Atlântico Sul Shipyard Numbers

Currently, Atlântico Sul Shipyard has around 500 employees. Between 2007 and 2014, it generated more than 11 jobs. At that time, Pernambuco was pointed out as a State in a situation of almost full employment. In 2021, the company carried out services on 11 vessels, which generated revenues of BRL 65,4 million, making possible a net cash generation of BRL 26,6 million.