New National Maritime Policy aims to unlock investments

The new National Maritime Policy (PMN), which came into effect this month (Decree 12.481/2025), is expected to change the way Brazil plans, regulates, and exploits its maritime routes, ports, and inland waters. The goal is to unlock investments and provide greater legal certainty for operators.

“It broadens the possibilities for coordination between the government, the private sector, and civil society. This creates a more favorable environment for investments and logistics projects,” says port consultant Roberto Paveck.

The PMN is expected to serve as a strategic guide for government decisions and help modernize regulation in the sector. According to attorney Marcelo Sammarco, a specialist in Maritime Law, the requirement for compatibility between regulations from different agencies could have significant effects. “Normative acts and planning from agencies like Antaq (National Waterway Transport Agency), the Navy, Ibama, and the National Secretariat for Ports will have to align with the principles of the PMN, which will require regulatory reviews and sectoral adjustments,” he explains.

Although it is a strategic plan and not a regulation with immediate application, the new policy already guides changes in areas such as vessel registration, integration between waterway transport and other modes, and support for the shipbuilding industry. There are also incentives for innovation, the blue economy, and environmental protection.

Sammarco notes that, although the decree does not amend existing laws, it reinforces environmental and operational commitments. “It encourages modal integration and the efficient and environmentally responsible use of waterway transport, which will positively impact logistics planning and port expansion projects.”

For attorney Thiago Miller, also a Maritime Law specialist, the PMN represents an effort to align economic growth, environmental protection, and sovereignty. “It doesn’t repeal laws but establishes a common framework that must be respected by future regulations. This helps prevent conflicts between competing interests.”

Although the new policy marks progress compared to the previous decree from 1994, the sector recognizes that the challenge now lies in its implementation, as fragmentation among regulatory bodies continues to hinder the efficiency of port operations and the business environment.

The National Federation of Maritime Shipping Agencies (Fenamar) points out that, although the proposal is welcome, “there is still a significant gap in governance and effective coordination among the various regulatory agencies.”

Navy coordinated working group for the PMN
The PMN was the result of an Interministerial Working Group (GTI) created in 2021 and coordinated by the Navy, aimed at promoting innovation, sustainability, and strengthening the shipbuilding industry, explains the Captain of the Port of São Paulo, Marcus André de Souza e Silva.

“It is a broad-reaching instrument, applicable not only to territorial waters but also throughout our continental shelf, including our oceanic islands, such as Trindade and Martin Vaz, and inland waters connected to the sea.”

According to the captain, the PMN reinforces concepts to society such as the “Blue Amazon,” which refers to Brazil’s maritime territory, highlighting its size and wealth, and the “Blue Economy,” which refers to the sustainable use of marine and river resources to generate economic growth and improve people’s lives while preserving the health of marine ecosystems.

He says the principles set forth in the PMN aim to reconcile and balance elements that do not always align, acknowledging that sea governance requires the integration of diverse perspectives. “In this context, cooperation in the South Atlantic is seen as key for security, scientific research, and sustainability as a condition for lasting and sustainable development, with Brazil reinforcing its role as an influential maritime actor.”

The new policy includes more concrete objectives grouped into pillars such as security and sovereignty, focusing on fighting crimes at sea and in rivers. “Strengthening our capacity to monitor and defend our waters,” says the captain.

“The implementation of the PMN should occur in a coordinated manner among the federal government, states, municipalities, and the private sector, upholding important principles such as legal certainty and sound rules to attract investments,” he adds.

Source: A Tribuna

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