Port of Itajaí in Brazil Starts Reinforcement Dredging of Access Channel, Expected to Take 7 to 10 Days

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Reinforcement dredging of the access channel to the Port of Itajaí (Santa Catarina State) began over the weekend, with an expected duration of seven to ten days under normal conditions. The announcement was made by the Superintendência do Porto de Itajaí (Port of Itajaí Authority), which is linked to the state-owned company Codeba (Companhia Docas da Bahia), the port's administrator.

In response to earlier reports by Agência iNFRA regarding the Navy's increase in the draft limit for vessels entering the port, the Port Authority stated that the dredger newly arrived at the port is not part of an emergency contract. The vessel is part of the current maintenance dredging contract, which provides for four dredging operations per year using a trailing suction hopper dredger; the previous operation took place in early June, and the regular schedule would have placed the next one in mid-September. Given the hydrological conditions and the increased flow of the Itajaí-Açu River (Rio Itajaí-Açu), the Port Authority proactively brought the operation forward.

The Port Authority explained that these exceptional conditions are caused by the El Niño phenomenon. El Niño has increased local rainfall, leading to greater-than-expected siltation in the Itajaí-Açu River, with intensified sediment transport and fluid mud formation; fluid mud accelerates deposition and siltation in the access channel, thus requiring more frequent maintenance interventions.

After the suction dredger completes its work, the Port Authority will organize additional hydrographic surveys, the results of which will be prioritized and submitted to the maritime authority for reassessing depths, under-keel clearance (UKC), and other operational conditions.

The Navy has increased the required distance between vessels and the maximum depth in various areas of the access channel from 30 centimeters to 80 centimeters, i.e., the under-keel clearance (UKC). This means vessels must sail with reduced loads, potentially lowering the cargo volume transported per trip.

The Port Authority emphasized that the maritime authority's measures are preventive in nature and related to navigational safety. The channel remains navigable, and operations have not been suspended. On August 13, the Port of Itajaí also received a 347-meter-long vessel, one of the largest ships ever operated at the port by JBS Terminal.