Porto Itapoá completed phase III expansion of its terminal with a total investment of R$ 815 million ($157 million).
The move adds 200,000 square metres of yard and an 8,000-square-metre warehouse.
The inauguration occurred in the presence of the Governor of the State of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, the State Secretary of Ports, Airports, and Railways, Beto Martins, the Mayor of Itapoá, Jeferson Garcia, authorities from various spheres, intervening bodies, entities, clients, employees, and the press.
With this expansion, Porto Itapoá now operates one of the largest container yards in Brazil, with 455,000 square metres, enabling it to handle up to 2 million TEU per year.
These investments also include the acquisition of large equipment – it is the first in South America to operate remotely controlled hybrid Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) and the expansion of berths.
The terminal’s President, Cássio Schreiner, stated that Porto Itapoá has already invested R$ 2.5 billion ($481 million) in its entirety and plans to invest over R$ 2 billion ($385 million) in the coming years.
“In recent years, we have been one of the companies that has invested the most in our region and we do not intend to stop here,” Schreiner stated.
“We are already planning works to add more yard, more piers, more equipment, and even more people and this is only possible when the Public Power understands our purpose and creates favorable conditions for private initiative to achieve its goals, helping society and the country in its development strategy, through what we do best, which is to undertake.”
READ: Porto Itapoá witnesses significant cargo expansion in 2023
Schreiner continued: “We have been working hand in hand, together with the Federal Government, State Government, and the Port Authority of São Francisco do Sul, to enable the dredging project of the Access Channel to Babitonga Bay – which handles over 60 per cent of the state of Santa Catarina’s port cargo.
“The support of Minister Silvio Costa Filho and Governor Jorginho Mello encourages us to advance with this project, showing that it is possible to build successful public-private partnership models that drive sustainable development, adding social, environmental, and economic value.
“Equally important is having a strategic look at our road and even railway structures, with the prioritisation of the duplication of our state and municipal highways providing access to Porto Itapoá.
“We believe in the potential and opportunity to have here in Babitonga the largest port complex in the country.”
Earlier this year, Porto Itapoá launched the Carbon Neutralization Project in partnership with the Ambipar Group to offset carbon emissions from customers.
