A delay in carrying out dredging and maintenance work at Santos has caused 7 of the 64 berths to lose their operational draft, hampering berthing ability of large vessels. The loss of draft happened even with an existing dredging contract. Until recently, the works were coordinated by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit) and carried out by Van Oord Maritime Operations. According to the Santos Port Authority, the corrections were not encompassed in the contract with Dnit because it only provided for the readjustment of the geometry of the channel and the berths. On January 8, a maintenance contract was signed with DTA Engenharia but, according to the SPA, it was impeded. “The preliminary injunction that prevented the work from starting was lifted on April 23 and, on April 29, a service order was signed for the mobilization of berth equipment,” stated SPA. Dnit, on the other hand, only informed that the reduction in draft is not related to the organ’s dredging contract.
Source: Datamar News/A Tribuna