Dredging Strategy

Santos signs for 16 metres while the 17-metre model stays in consultation

Published 19 July 2026 Updated 3 August 2026 Publisher IMWO Region Americas Confidence Confirmed
View along the Port of Santos navigation channel from maintenance-dredging plant, with working berths and vessels on both banks

Autoridade Portuaria de Santos; September 2025 maintenance context, not Jan De Nul mobilisation

Santos has signed a five-year channel-deepening contract with Jan De Nul, but the port's access programme is not one package. Existing 15-metre maintenance, DTA's rock removal, Jan De Nul's 16-metre dredging scope and a proposed 25-year concession all sit on different contracts and evidence tracks.

Published scope and current milestone

APS signed the Jan De Nul deepening contract on 12 June after approving RLE 51/2025, Lot 1. ANTAQ's consultation report records the separate 15-metre channel baseline, while MPor identifies DTA's rock-removal package and reports environmental licensing in place. In parallel, ANTAQ took comments until 31 July on a proposed 25-year concession covering channel operation, maintenance, navigation systems and a later 17-metre target. None of those records shows Jan De Nul mobilised under the new contract.

Dredging quantity and delivery implications

The overlap is commercially important. The signed works contract includes licensing, design, deepening and two years of maintenance at 16 metres. The concession proposal still under consultation would give a future operator responsibility for operation, continuous maintenance, navigation aids, VTMIS, environmental management and a later 17-metre target.

Evidence conclusion

Survey, placement and acceptance evidence

No public handover point has been defined. APS needs accepted geometry, hydrography, environmental records, maintenance obligations and operating data from the current packages before a future concessionaire can inherit a defensible baseline. Until then, R$617.9 million for the signed works and R$688 million of proposed concession investment must remain separate, as must physical depth, operational draft and a future 17-metre target.

Outstanding evidence

  • Jan De Nul work order and mobilisation under the signed 16-metre contract
  • Licensing and design closure across deepening and separate rock-removal scope
  • Baseline and post-work hydrography for each physical package
  • Resolution of the R$617.9 million announcement and R$619.78 million board record
  • Close of ANTAQ consultation and any revised concession documents after 31 July
  • Treatment of completed works, surveys, maintenance obligations and data at concession handover
  • Evidence distinguishing physical 16 metres, declared operating draft and the proposed 17-metre milestone

Related records 1

Subject index

Related subjects

These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.

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