Ibama grants license to deepen access canal to the Babitonga Bay Port Complex

The dredging project will increase the depth of the external access channel from 14 meters to 16 meters, allowing the navigation of vessels up to 366 meters in length.

The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) has issued the Installation License for the widening and deepening of the access canal to Babitonga Bay in northern Santa Catarina. With the issuance of the license this week, the Port of São Francisco do Sul can now begin the bidding process to hire the company responsible for the project, estimated at R$ 300 million.

The dredging project will increase the depth of the outer canal from 14 meters to at least 16 meters, allowing vessels up to 366 meters in length to navigate. For Cleverton Vieira, President of the Port of São Francisco do Sul, this project is a significant achievement for Santa Catarina. “The international maritime fleet is constantly updating, with ships becoming larger and requiring greater depth. With this project, we will place the Babitonga Bay Port Complex and our state on the route for larger vessels,” he said. He also explained that Ibama approved the environmental conditions, which will serve as guidelines for the project’s execution.

The tender notice for the dredging project is expected to be published by the end of this year, with work scheduled to begin in early 2025. According to Sergni Rosa Júnior, Operations Director at Porto Itapoá, the project enhances the natural advantages of Babitonga Bay. “Our bay benefits greatly from calm waters and a natural depth, requiring very little maintenance. Now we will make our port complex even more competitive,” he highlighted.

A Groundbreaking Model

The project’s financing model is unprecedented in Brazil. The necessary funds for the dredging and widening of the bay will be financed by Porto Itapoá, a private terminal. “The R$ 300 million for dredging will be reimbursed by the Port of São Francisco through supplemental revenue generated by the increased ship traffic resulting from the dredging,” said Cleverton Vieira.

Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello, who signed the protocol of intentions in June to facilitate the project, emphasized the importance of the Installation License for the development of the northern region of the state. “This is a fundamental step towards further increasing the potential of our ports. We are focused on advancing the necessary processes to deliver this major infrastructure project, both the deepening of the Babitonga Bay canal and the widening of Itapoá Beach,” said Mello.

The governor was referring to another innovative aspect of the project: the use of sediments removed during the dredging to widen the sandy beach at Itapoá, located next to the bay’s access canal. In recent years, this area has faced coastal erosion problems. This will be the first time that sediments from port dredging are used to restore a beach.