Logistics Reorganization is priority in Port of Santos
DCI
The plans for the expansion of the Port of Santos, which are expected to double its capacity of operation from the current 115 million to 230 million tons in 2024, bring the need for a logistics reorganization in the road-railroad infrastructure that gives access to the complex of Santos. José Roberto Correia Serra, the current Director President of the Codesp (the São Paulo State Port Company) and the person in charge of the docks of the Port of Santos, says that the Administration is currently implementing initiatives of preparation of the access routes to the port, both through land and water, to meet the projected demand, but indicates the occurrence of logistics bottlenecks outside the port area. "The impact of new terminals requires a road-railroad resizing that is integrated to the projects under development".
According to Serra, next year starts with the Special Secretariat of Ports (SEP) working in the elaboration of an agreement with the Government of the State of São Paulo to handle the issue closely. One of the most polemic works required for an efficient flow of cargo until Santos is the construction of the Railroad Ring, especially its southern segment, which aims at organizing the passage of the cargo trains through the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo without affecting the railroad transport of passengers.
Until a month ago, the Federal Government and the State differed on how this work, which has estimated investments of more than R$ 700 million (US$ 407 million) - only for the southern segment - would be executed. The announcement of a possible agreement may facilitate an understanding between the State and Federal administrations, in the sense the Railroad Ring begins coming out of the paper next year.
While a solution is sought for the matter of the logistics reorganization in order to cater to the expansion of Santos, the port continues with the structural actions. For 2010, the elaboration of the Port Development Plan is foreseen. The investments foreseen for the Port of Santos exceed R$ 5 billion (US$ 2.9 billion) over the coming years, a great part from the private initiative, in the expansion of terminals. For 2010, it is estimated that the port of Santos should receive nearly R$ 700 million (US$ 407 million) in total, including not only the expansion works, but also the funds that will be invested in dredging (deepening of the channel), projects of technological update and security and the goal of concluding the perimeter avenue of the right margin, besides starting the works on the left margin.