FORUM MEETS TO DISCUSS PORT OF SANTOS EXPANSION

On September 20 an international forum aimed at debating the expansion of the Port of Santos discussed among other topics the challenges and the opportunities the dredging activity offers for Latin America’s busiest port. Currently lacking dredging which limits larger vessels from docking the panel ‘A new model for port dredging’ looked at ways the activity could improve the port’s operations. José de Oliva president at São Paulo state port authority Codesp said bureaucracy hampers dredging bidding tenders. Additionally instead of looking only at the existing model the executive argued all involved parties should collaborate to find an ideal solution for the Port of Santos. Security issues involving the dredging activity were also raised. Claudio Paulino president of the Santos Praticagem or the Santos Pilots said if bathymetry and dredging aren’t continuous to maintain a certain depth safety issues were likely to happen. Civil engineering scholar Paolo Alfredini said dredging is one of the least factors causing erosion at the Ponta da Praia beach in the city of Santos.