Guided tour took guests to learn about the terminal’s operation, as well as stepping aboard a ship

BMW Group executives visit Porto Itapoá

BMW Group executives visited Porto Itapoá. The objective was to get to know the structure of the Terminal through which part of the company’s operation in Brazil passes. Guests were also able to visit a ship and see part of the vessel’s facilities.

The company’s director of overseas supplies, Wolfgang Pointner, came from Munich, Germany to learn about the logistics infrastructure that serves BMW in Brazil. “It is my first visit to Brazil and I can say that I am very impressed with the operation of Porto Itapoá, its organization, as well as its effort to generate positive social and environmental impacts. These are values ​​that form part of our strategy and, as a result, we have made efforts to align our supply chain with this vision,” he explained.

Operating in more than 140 countries, the BMW Group seeks to strengthen partners that meet quality and social responsibility standards. That’s what Thomas Fahnauer, director of logistics at the BMW Group plant in Araquari (SC), says. “It is a pleasure to know that an important partner of ours in Brazil, such as Porto Itapoá, is performing a work of excellence, but also acts in fundamental aspects for sustainable development”, highlighted the executive.

For the director of Operations, Technology and Environment at Porto Itapoá, Sergni Pessoa Rosa Jr., recognition by customers and partners is an important reference for the development of the Terminal’s actions. “Currently, we have more than 30 socio-environmental projects, in addition to supporting and sponsoring various community initiatives”, reported Sergni.

The visitors went aboard the ship Maersk Leon, where they were received by the first mate, Marius Valeanu, and by the head of engineering, Claudiu Clement Neagu. Also participating in the visit were Simone Goeing, senior export planning manager at the BMW Group; Danilo Basaglia, customs manager for BMW Group Brazil; Lívia Barbosa Ângelo, Senior Logistics Manager at the BMW Group plant in Araquari; Fernando Sartori, material planning manager at the BMW Group plant in Araquari; Eduardo Guglielmi Simplicio, Port Complex Manager at Maersk; Karenina Britto, Maersk sales coordinator; and Felipe Kaufmann, head of transport for Maersk on the East Coast of South America.

Supplier Day Award

Porto Itapoá was the winner of the Supplier Day 2022 Award, promoted by the BMW Group to celebrate initiatives committed to sustainable mobility and social responsibility among its suppliers. The port of Santa Catarina is the only company in the logistics and foreign trade sector that was among the competitors in the sustainability category.

The winning initiative was the accelerated composting program using biotechnology carried out by the Terminal since February 2022.