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Itajai in race to reopen after floods ruin berths

By Rainbow Nelson - Thursday 27 November 2008

BRAZILIAN president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met port executives today to discuss the reconstruction of the port of Itajai following the collapse of three berths at the port during heavy rains. 

The port of Itajai, the second most important public port in Brazil in terms of value of the goods shipped across its berths, has been coming to terms with damage caused to three of the port’s four principal quays on Monday. 

Handling more than $10bn of goods and 650,000 teu a year, Itajai is a key gateway for the export of frozen meat and chicken as well as imports for Santa Catarina, the second richest state in Brazil. 

The damages are expected to take between four and six months to repair, according to Patricio Junior, chief commercial director for APM Terminals in Latin America. APM Terminals owns Itajai’s largest container terminal, Teconvi. “Teconvi remains closed for operations, with a skeleton staff present,” he said. 

The first inspections, he said, indicated that a new 235 m berth (berth 0) under construction had not been affected by the inundations and would alleviate some of the problems linked to the damage when it is completed as early as December. A further 70 m of berth would be ready in February. 

In the meantime, a windows proposal is being drawn up for existing customers for the use of the only remaining berth, number 4. 

The initial forecast for operations in Itajai at the remaining berth, he said would be “no sooner than one week from now”. 

But access to both terminals has been affected by the collapse of the quays and restrictions to the navigation channel. Access to Itajai will be reviewed with detailed surveys of the channel required. 

Draft restrictions for the navigation channel are at 8 m, according to Mr Junior, but Mr Da Silva “promised immediate funding for reconstruction at the port of Itajai”. 

“Water levels and current will be reviewed on a regular basis by the pilots and navy, once cleared. The river will have to be checked at the bottom for any garbage or rocks, which entails further dredging,” said Mr Junior. 

Brazil’s secretary for ports, Pedro Brito, will visit the port on December 2 to discuss a reconstruction plan that would include Brazilian federal government assistance. 

“Government authorities have visited and assessed the terminal. The Brazilian government has announced its full support for Itajai,” said Mr Junior. 

“The port intends to use funds to reconstruct damaged berths, demolish warehouses and build new superstructure at the other public berths,” he said. Mr Junior said he was optimistic that the port would be open for limited business on Monday. 

Teconvi’s customers are expected to switch most of their business to the Portonave terminal when the channel has been cleared. Portonave — a greenfield port developed in Navegantes opposite Itajai — has not been adversely affected by the floods. 

CMA CGM Brasil investment director André de Fazio said: “Navegantes will attract most of the services calling at Teconvi, but I don’t believe Navegantes will be able to attract 100% of Teconvi services because of this scenario — the bottleneck will be the berth window.” 

Navigation at the port of Paranagua has also been restricted as a result of heavy rain in the region. 
Vessel calls at night have been suspended at the country’s second most important port for grain shipments.