The president of the Autoridade Portuária de Santos (APS), Anderson Pomini, presented an accountability report for the first three quarters of management at the Port of Itajaí, in Santa Catarina. APS assumed control of the port on January 1, 2025, after the end of the municipality’s concession.
According to Pomini, the Port of Itajaí is entering a new phase of growth and competitiveness. He stated that the port “has regained cargo flows and, by July 2025, had already handled 2.3 million tons, with projections to surpass the cargo volume and container movement of the last three years.”
APS’s administration at the port has been marked by the resumption of dredging operations and the revalidation of operational drafts following the restoration of depths in the internal and external channels and the turning basin.
The investment plan for Itajaí’s infrastructure exceeds R$844 million. Among the main projects is the removal of the wreck of the ship Pallas, an operation estimated at R$68 million and awaited for a century.
Under current plans, underwater assessment dives will begin next month, with the removal of the sunken hull expected in the first half of 2026. APS is coordinating with the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan) to ensure archaeological recovery of the vessel.
Additional projects include the reconfiguration of the North (Navegantes) and South (Itajaí) jetties to improve vessel maneuvering safety and capacity; implementation of the VTMIS navigation monitoring system (R$65 million); R$20 million in energy modernization for substations and lighting; expansion of the customs area by 60,000 square meters, new scanners (R$12 million), and upgraded gates (R$3 million).
APS also plans an integrated road monitoring system for trucks to reduce logistical bottlenecks and urban impact, as well as a R$30 million SmartPorto program with intelligent cameras and integrated security monitoring.
A R$300 million Cruise Terminal project is also planned, with a Master Plan expected by February 2026, aimed at establishing Itajaí as a maritime tourism hub. Financially, the port’s performance in the first half of 2025 already surpassed the total revenue of the previous year.
Autoridade Portuária de Santos (APS) is a federal public company responsible for managing the Port of Santos and, since 2025, for overseeing operations at the Port of Itajaí. It operates under the supervision of Brazil’s Ministry of Ports and Airports, managing infrastructure, port services, and strategic planning in compliance with national port regulations.
Port of Itajaí is a public port located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is one of the country’s main maritime terminals for containerized cargo and has strategic importance for exports from the southern region.
