Waterway network breaks historic record for cargo handling and starts new expansion cycle

The Brazilian waterway network began a new cycle of expansion by registering record handling in cargo transport in the first five months of the year. More than 51.2 million tons of goods passed through Brazilian rivers in the four hydrographic regions that make up the logistical set of inland waterways in the country. It is the best result in the historical series for the first five months of the year and is equivalent to an increase of 6.53%, compared to 2022.

The main highlight is the Amazon region, whose rivers fulfill the same role reserved for highways and railways in the rest of the country. Everything passes through the waterways, responsible for the flow of 32.1 million tons between January and May 2022, which is equivalent to an increase of about 10% compared to the same period in 2022. The region accounts for almost two thirds of all Brazilian river transport.

The hydrographic region of Paraguay was the main percentage highlight over the period, with growth of 52.9%, which is equivalent to more than 3.3 million tons transported. Through the rivers of the Tocantins-Araguaia region, 18.6 million tons passed, an increase of 0.8%, compared to the first five months of 2022. In the South Atlantic region, the total amount of cargo shipped reached 2.2 million of tons.

The data are from the statistical panel of the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ). The agency received a 17% increase in the budget from the Ministry of Ports and Airports. The objective is to increase incentives for waterway navigation, by reinforcing preliminary studies and technical surveys.

The volume of resources released by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) for the waterway modal reached R$ 177 million in the first six months of the year. Of this total, R$ 50 million were transferred to dredging works in rivers considered strategic for the transport of cargo in different regions. The highlight is the completion of the dredging of the Madeira River waterway, one of the main waterways in the Amazon region. Resources also include dredging works in stretches of the Parnaíba (MA and PI), Taquari (SP) and Paraguay (MT) rivers.

In the framework of works in progress, the highlight is the resumption of the demolition of a section of the Nova Avanhandava channel, on the Tietê River, in São Paulo. The work consists of extracting rocks to deepen the channel and make navigation and cargo transport along the river possible. The federal transfer in the period was R$ 98.7 million.

The waterway monitoring plans for the Madeira, São Francisco, Paraguay and Tocantins rivers were also awarded federal funds, as well as the waterway monitoring of the Madeira, São Francisco, Paraguay, Tocantins and Tapajós rivers. The operation and maintenance plan for the locks at Sobradinho (BA), Jupiá and Três Irmãos (MS), in Tucuruí (PA) received a budget of R$ 10 million in the period.

In the first half of the year, the Federal Government completed the work on the Small Public Port Installations (IP4) in Augusto Correia (MA) and Mosqueiro, in Belém do Pará. During the period, the Union began executing operation and maintenance contracts for another 19 facilities. The total value is R$ 133.9 million. A contribution of R$ 105.8 million was authorized to maintain the operation and maintenance of 35 port facilities whose contracts were already in progress.

The recovery project for the IP4 in Manicoré (AM) was approved and the Federal Government invested over R$ 13 million in the period in the construction works for the IP4 in Envira and Barcelos, in Amazonas, and Juruti and Oriximiná, in Pará. The works to revitalize the ports of Parintins and Ipixuna, in Amazonas, were delivered during the period.

Studies

Among the studies completed in the period by the Department of Navigation and Waterways of the MPOR are proposals for adjustments to the decree to increase cabotage transport, the strategic relevance of the Ministry’s participation in the National Immigration Council, analysis of the multilateral agreement on maritime transport within the scope of the Mercosur and a bilateral maritime transport agreement between Brazil and Argentina, in addition to contributions to the decree text of the new National Maritime Policy (PMN).

Studies on the decarbonization of the maritime sector and the analysis of maritime transport data from Mercosur member countries and the Waterway Sector Plan, among others, are also in progress.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

To read the full original report, visit: https://www.informativodosportos.com.br/rede-de-hidrovias-bate-recorde-historico-de-movimentacao-de-cargas-e-inicia-novo-ciclo-de-expansao/

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