While COP30 strengthens Brazil’s position as a global climate leader, the Port of Santos aims to lead the energy transition within the national maritime sector. The Santos Port Authority (APS) is investing in a set of initiatives that materialize the decarbonization goals established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and by the Paris Agreement, positioning the country’s largest gateway as a hub for sustainable logistics.
Since 2023, the tariff discounts offered to ships and terminals that adopt sustainable practices total approximately R$40.6 million. In 2025 alone, the amount has reached R$16.8 million.
These are revenues that APS waives in order to encourage terminals to produce a complete inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions, as well as detailed energy matrix information. “Green” ships — those that comply with international carbon and noise emission standards — are also eligible.
“For APS, this is not lost revenue. It is an investment,” says the president of the state-owned company, Anderson Pomini. “Taking the lead in this process does not just mean complying with global requirements, but also solidifying a competitive advantage essential to continue attracting global partners that prioritize sustainable logistics chains.”
Levers for a sustainable future
The maritime sector accounts for 80% of global trade and 3% of global GHG emissions, according to IMO data, making the transformation of ports critical for meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. To make decarbonization viable, ports must operate on three levers: logistics efficiency, biofuels, and the supply of renewable electricity.
In October, APS signed a contract with the Valenciaport Foundation to prepare a Decarbonization Plan and an Energy Master Plan (PDE) for the Port of Santos. The contract requires the delivery of these studies within 22 months.
The purpose of the Decarbonization Plan is to establish guidelines and goals to decarbonize operations throughout the entire port complex of the Baixada Santista, which includes the activities of APS, port terminals, ships operating at the Port, and rail and road transportation modes.
The PDE, in turn, will set guidelines and actions to enable the Port of Santos to transition from fossil fuel-based energy, which is highly carbon-intensive, to increasingly cleaner energy sources.
Renewable energy and smart logistics
Since 2024, the Port of Santos has also been developing a pioneering pier electrification project. The clean and renewable energy generated by the Itatinga Hydroelectric Plant supplies the roughly 20 tugboats operating at the site. Ongoing negotiations aim to expand this supply.
Logistics efficiency is also advancing with support from the São José dos Campos Technology Innovation Park (PIT), which is developing solutions for sequencing trucks and vessels, reducing wait times and, consequently, emissions.
The VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Management Information System) — currently being implemented — will be another milestone, optimizing vessel flow.
For APS’s Director of Operations, Beto Mendes, the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere has a duty to invest in intelligence and technology to combine efficiency with sustainability.
“Initiatives like the partnership with PIT, an international reference in innovation, prepare the Port of Santos for the future and align port operations with global best practices,” he says.
Lastly, the upgrade of the Itatinga Plant, currently in the study phase, aims to increase its generating capacity, including the production of green hydrogen. The plant, which already supplies nearly all of APS’s energy demand, could directly supply a significant portion of port operations.
Meanwhile, the Natural Gas facilities of the Baixada Santista are becoming a strategic differentiator in the energy transition, allowing ships to be fueled with lower-carbon fuel.
Sidnei Aranha, APS’s superintendent of Environment, explains that the set of initiatives aims to “consolidate green shipping corridors. When both departure and arrival points for a vessel ensure the supply of fuel considered to have low impact.”
Data-driven management
Since 2021, APS has operated with scientific rigor in managing its emissions. The institution prepares its annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory using the methodology of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program, approved by CETESB guidelines. The document covers approximately 400,000 m² of operational areas in Santos, Guarujá, and Bertioga, as well as 19.5 million m² of vegetated areas under environmental management by the port authority.
“The inventory is not just a report; it is our compass for strategic decisions. Knowing our exact carbon footprint ensures that every investment is directed where it will have the greatest climate impact,” explains Aranha. Full reports are available on the state-owned company’s website.
Source: Porto de Santos
