By PortalPortuario Editorial Team
To maintain competitiveness and excellence in container handling, Portonave is carrying out the second stage of the wharf adaptation project, with investments totaling approximately R$ 1.6 billion and R$ 439 million in new container handling and inspection equipment.
With the more robust wharf, with a depth of 17 meters, ships up to 400 meters in length will be able to be received at the Port Terminal, and modern, higher-capacity cranes will be installed. With the new investments, the Port Terminal’s capacity, of 1.5 million TEUs, will increase to 2 million TEUs.
The project is part of a large package of investments to modernize the Port Terminal, which includes the acquisition of new equipment for operational efficiency. Together, they total an investment of R$ 2 billion. The Port Terminal is the most efficient in the country in container handling, according to September data from the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq). In ship operations, approximately 114 container Moves Per Hour (MPH) are performed by the Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes.
Started in January 2024, the first phase of the adaptation project was completed in September of this year. As a result, activities moved on to the second phase, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. Currently, around 1,100 professionals are dedicated to activities on the wharf and at the construction sites. To mitigate impacts on the community, environmental monitoring programs are carried out constantly.
Phased execution is essential to maintain operations. Portonave’s wharf is 900 meters long. Each phase corresponds to 450 meters. While one side is under construction, the other carries out activities without interruption. In October, the container handling (STS) cranes were transferred to the west wharf, where the second stage is being executed.
In addition to operational gains, the adaptation is an opportunity for greater decarbonization in operations. After the project, it will be possible to install shore power, a system for supplying electrical energy to docked vessels – a pioneering technology in the country. The system will allow docked ships to connect to shore power, reducing emissions of polluting gases.
The investment also translates into a direct impact for the region by expanding cargo flow, attracting new business, and creating opportunities that drive economic and social development.
Adaptation
The adaptation does not consist of expanding the existing infrastructure, but of modernizing it. The investment involves installing new and more robust structural components, capable of receiving larger ships and equipment. The wharf infrastructure is made up of various internal elements, such as beams, piles, and slabs, and external ones, such as fenders and mooring bollards – which assist in vessel docking. These components work together to support heavy loads, resist the currents of the waterway channel, and ensure safety in cargo docking and handling.
Equipment
The acquisition includes two Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes intended for loading and unloading containers on ships, 14 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, which handle movement in the yard, one Reach Stacker, a large forklift – with operations starting in August – and two Scanners for container inspection – installed in September. All equipment is 100% electric. With the wharf adaptation, it will be possible to implement the higher-capacity STS cranes, scheduled to enter operation in the second half of 2026.
