Porto Itapoá has commenced Phase Four of its growth, which is expected to cost R$ 500 million ($88.45 million) over the next 12 months.
This project is the latest step in the Terminal’s ongoing expansion, which has already placed it among the top four in Brazil and is expected to become the largest and most efficient in South America by 2033.
Felipe Fioravanti Kaufmann, the Director of Business Development and Customer Experience at Porto Itapoá, explained: “This expansion will add another 120,000 m² to the yard. We are also planning to purchase additional high-tech equipment which we expect to improve the terminal’s efficiency and sustainability.”
According to Porto Itapoá, the most significant of these new investments is the purchase of an additional container crane, which is an essential part of transporting containers on large ships. This will be the eighth at Itapoá.
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The wharf will also be extended by another 400 metres shortly, adding to its present length of 800 metres. This will allow three huge vessels to dock simultaneously.
Kaufmann further stated that this expansion has already been approved by IBAMA – the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources – and that the construction would need to follow a planned timeline.
The modernisation plans also include purchasing 12 remote controlled RTGs (rubber-tired gantry cranes).
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Porto Itapoá already has 10 remote-controlled RTGs and is South America’s first port terminal to use this technology.
Kaufmann added: “These are hybrid cranes, which, not only reduces our fuel consumption, but also our carbon emissions.”
The terminal also features 17 standard RTGs. There are also plans to purchase nine terminal tractors (TTs), which transfer containers across the yard and wharf.
Additionally, the terminal now has 49 TTs, 20 of which are electric, being Brazil’s largest fleet of electric TTs.