The Ecoporto terminal, which operates at the Saboó quay (STS10) in the Port of Santos, has submitted a statement to the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) contesting the possibility of sharing berth CS-04 — currently used for its vessel operations — with new companies that may be awarded temporary contracts in the same area, adjacent to its operations. Ecoporto argues that such a measure could undermine the future Santos 10 Container Terminal (Tecon Santos 10) planned for the site.
According to Antaq, the shared use of the berth was proposed by the Santos Port Authority (APS) to justify the feasibility of new temporary contracts at the location. The state-owned company explained to the agency that the berth could be used partially and occasionally to allow simultaneous berthings at Saboó.
Ecoporto, however, claims it never authorized shared use of the berth and that any attempt to divide the space with new operators would be “technically and operationally unfeasible,” according to a document filed last week. The terminal maintains that the berth is part of the exclusive-use area granted under its transitional contract (valid until May 2026 or until the auction takes place) and that it holds exclusive rights to port operations and customs handling in the area.
“Ecoporto is currently responsible for the operation of the area until the auction for the lease of Tecon Santos 10 takes place. Any change in operations at this stage could create legal and operational uncertainty, especially given the transition protocol that must be drafted and followed once the auction is completed,” the company stated.
Ecoporto has positioned itself as an interested party in the case in which Antaq decided, at the end of September, to uphold the suspension of new transitional contracts in the area signed by APS with two companies, as reported by A Tribuna. These contracts have been suspended since February.
Antaq received yesterday the opinion requested from the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), which stated it saw no “obstacle” to releasing the contracts. The agency will deliberate on the matter again at a later date.
Source: A Tribuna
