APS RESUMES INSPECTION OF BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE BY SHIPS CALLING AT THE PORT OF SANTOS

The Santos Port Authority (APS) has reinstated a rule requiring ships docking at the Port of Santos to present certificates proving compliance with international ballast water discharge regulations. The measure aims to prevent environmental damage caused by invasive species and follows a Superior Court of Justice decision upholding APS’s authority over the issue. While no fines will be applied initially, inspections will use a remote system with AI, GPS, and other technologies to verify proper ballast management in line with International Maritime Organization standards and Brazil’s Navy Standard 401/DPC. Ballast water containing waste, toxins, or invasive species poses serious ecological and health risks. Globally, ships move about 10 billion tonnes of ballast water annually, with Brazil accounting for 80 million tonnes—highlighting the importance of regulation in safeguarding marine ecosystems along the Baixada Santista region.
Source: Porto De Santos / Datamar News