General – Dredging
Yesterday, DEME won Brazil’s first-ever auction for a port access channel concession.
The Canal Galheta Dredging Consortium (CCGD), formed by DEME and FTS Participações Societárias S.A. (FTS), secured the contract to operate, maintain, and expand the marine access channel to the Port of Paranaguá for 25 years. The port is the second-largest public port in the state of Paraná.
As part of a strategic initiative led by Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ), a tender was launched for the operation and management of the marine access channel to the Port of Paranaguá.
The Port of Paranaguá is recognized as Brazil’s second-largest public port and plays a critical role in the handling of agribulk, containers, and liquid bulk. This makes the concession a cornerstone of the country’s logistics.
Furthermore, the channel expansion will reinforce the port’s position as one of South America’s leading export gateways. Under the concession contract, CCGD will be responsible for maintaining, operating, and deepening the channel.
This will increase the Port of Paranaguá’s draft increases from its current permissible depth of 13.3 meters to 15.5 meters. CGD will also be responsible for managing the nautical signaling and beacon system.
The main work will involve deepening the channel, which will allow larger vessels to access the port, and maintaining its depth through regular dredging and managing vessel navigation.
The deepening of the channel will also enable the docking of many of the largest vessels servicing the Brazilian market to dock, significantly boosting cargo capacity and operational efficiency while ensuring safe and continuous navigation.
Steven Bouckaert, General Manager DEME Concessions, explained: “Our partnership with FTS, which blends four decades of local expertise with DEME’s global leadership in sustainable dredging to set a new benchmark for port concessions in Brazil. This pioneering model supports Paraná’s strategic vision of reinforcing the Port of Paranaguá’s role as a leading export hub in South America by providing reliable, long-term marine infrastructure from which operators, exporters, and Brazil as a whole will benefit.”
Following the auction, the authorities will perform the regular administrative processes over the coming months, leading ultimately to the formal signing of the 25-year concession agreement.
DEME’s partner, FTS Participações Societárias S.A., is an established port terminal and logistics operator that is active in the Port of Paranaguá and other Brazilian ports.
