Due to the instability in the volume of the Itajaí-Açu River, the access channel to the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes is closed and, therefore, the transport of cargo by ships in the complexes is impossible to happen, causing serious damage to the companies

Since last Tuesday, (03/05), the access channel to the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes, in the state of Santa Catarina, has been closed and cargo transport in the places is not taking place. The stoppage of the channel will continue for undetermined time due to the constant changes in the volume of the Itajaí-Açu River and the companies still calculate the high loss that will be signed without the possibility of moving goods by ships in the complexes. 

Instability in the volume of the Itajaí-Açu River causes interruption of the access channel to the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes and brings serious problems for cargo transport 

The last few days have been marked by heavy rains throughout the state of Santa Catarina and, as a result, the volume of the Itajaí-Açu River is highly unstable. Thus, it is not possible to project what the changes in the course and volume of the river will be and, therefore, the access channel to the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes was closed by the administration of the ports. Now, there is a stoppage in cargo transport operations with ships from the locals and a high loss for the complexes 

Although it is not possible to calculate the real damage that will be caused in the ports and in the companies that carry out the cargo transport operations, the administration of the complexes affirms that the damage will be difficult to repair. This happens because the access channel through the Itajaí-Açu River is the main one for a series of export and import activities at the site. And with the closure of the structure, ships find themselves trapped both inside and outside the complexes.

Thus, Ricardo Amorim, General Director of Logistics Operations at the Port of Itajaí, commented on the losses that will be calculated due to the impossibility of entry and exit of ships in the ports and stated that “It is a very large chain of logistics and foreign trade. We have losses for exporters, for importers who are unable to sell production or receive raw materials, we are talking about terminals that are unable to operate ships, and will start to store a lot of cargo, since ships are not docking”.

Several ships are paralyzed and without the possibility of new cargo transport operations in ports due to the closure of the access channel

The main problem that is being seen in the ports of Itajaí and Navegantes due to the closure of the access channel is the overcrowding of the terminals with ships. This happens because, with the stoppage of cargo transport operations, these vessels need to wait for the volume of the river to stabilize in order to be able to complete the activities that were planned, causing a long queue at both port complexes. 

Thus, in the access channel, five ships are waiting for the current and river to improve to dock, and four are moored, two at Portonave, one at the public port and one at Barra do Rio. The current speed is highly unstable and high, according to the administration of the ports, and the continuity of cargo transport operations could endanger the ships and the employees who carry out this movement in the ports. 

Finally, the port administration commented that the ships waiting for access are more than 300 meters long, which makes the operation more delicate and with more restrictions regarding wind and current. Now, the ports await the normalization of the course of the river for the resumption of activities.