The National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) informed this Tuesday, the 26th, agents in the national waterway sector and other interested parties that it will hold a Public Consultation and Hearing between 10/09/2023 and 11/22/2023. The intention is to obtain contributions, subsidies, and suggestions for improving technical and legal documents relating to holding a bidding process for the concession of waterway access (access channel) to the Port of Paranaguá. The approval took place last week during the 551st Ordinary Board Meeting.
This is an unprecedented project, where the current access conditions to the Port of Paranaguá made the proposed model for the country’s first waterway concession feasible to be implemented in Paraná. In reporting the vote, Lima Filho, the director reporting on the matter, highlighted the importance of the public hearing for contributions and improvements to the model. “I understand that the main controversial issues were adequately addressed in the procedural instruction. As indicated by the Special Concessions Advisory, there are themes that require greater reflection and maturity. However, I support that these topics can be debated simultaneously with the public hearing procedure,” he said.
The Agency’s General Director, Eduardo Nery, highlighted the learning curve that the port sector obtains from the project, which starts in Paranaguá and could be used as a successful model for other ports. Finally, he highlighted that, despite the project’s complexity, INFRA S.A prepared the studies at a highly technical level. “I congratulate everyone involved in this construction, especially the team from the Ministry of Ports and Airports and Portos do Paraná”, he pointed out.
The scope of the concession will cover the expansion, maintenance, and exploration of the waterway access channel for 25 years. The main improvements planned in the project include deepening, widening, and widening of the channel, the widening of the evolution basin, and the deepening of anchoring area nº 6; the forecast is to increase to 13.3 meters still in the construction phase. Implementation and reach 15.5 meters after the concession.
In the proposed modeling – designed by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, Ports of Paraná, ANTAQ, and others involved – the future concessionaire will carry out all the necessary investments to achieve the established goal, including dredging, demolition, nautical signaling, bathymetry, programs and monitoring services environmental, among others.
According to the project, this increase in the draft is essential to guarantee better operational conditions, thus allowing the service of larger vessels, currently restricted to the depth and conditions of the channel, in addition to navigation safety.
The Chief Executive Officer of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia, highlighted the importance of the State being at the forefront of a pioneering concession in the country. “This process is fundamental for the safety of navigation and the level of service at our ports. Serving larger ships allows port users to enter into new commercial agreements, which we are currently unable to meet due to operational restrictions. Furthermore, in the operational aspect, the port gains greater efficiency and agility”, he highlighted.
Social Participation – In the Notice published by ANTAQ, the technical and legal documents will be available from 10/09/2023, and contributions can be sent to ANTAQ until 11:59 pm on 11/22/2023, exclusively through and on the form of the electronic form available on the indicated website. See the Notice: https://www.in.gov.br/web/dou/-/aviso-de-audiencia-publica-n-7/2023-antaq-de-25-de-setembro-de-2023-512263846.
Source: Portos do Paraná
