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Brazilian Ports and Navigation Remain in Operation

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Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navigation, marine navigation, aeronautic navigation, and space navigation.

In view of the worsening of the coronavirus epidemic in Brazil, the country’s port terminals have reinforced the security measures and containment of the spread of COVID-19, according to guidelines from health authorities and the federal government. However, there is already a concern about possible logistical bottleneck due to the crisis.

The first fear is the very need to dismiss employees. Industry officials and executives have reiterated that there is no forecast for any port terminal shutdown, as occurred in China.

The standard measure has been to implement remote work for administrative areas, release employees from risk groups and expand precautionary measures for those who work directly in the port operation.

Port Logistics

A letter signed by almost 50 entities representing agribusiness segment was addressed on Wednesday, 18, to the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, and to the Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, requesting support from the federal government to guarantee the functioning of the national port logistics amid the coronavirus crisis.

Public & Private Ports

The NANTAQ announced today, 20, that public, private and other port facilities remain in operation, as well as coastal and long-haul transportation activities.

In a note, ANTAQ clarified that only the Union will be able to determine the closure of port facilities in all Brazilian states or the suspension of service provision on interstate and international waterway transportation lines. The legal basis is Article 22, item X, of the Federal Constitution, and Ordinance 125, of March 19th, 2020, of the Presidency of the Republic.

Cabotage

The Brazilian Association of Cabotage Shipowners reported that the modal remains active. The companies associated with ABAC have taken actions to protect their employees and contribute to the prevention of the contagion of COVID-19, following the guidelines of the country’s health authorities.

The measures safely guarantee the continuity of cabotage services, always within the principles of preventing and maintaining the supply of products to society.

Santos Port

On Wednesday, operation in Santos Port was threatened due to a possible halt of the stevedores work, who even sent a letter to the authorities announcing their decision to stop working. The situation was, in principle, contained in a meeting between port authority, representatives of companies and unions.

Container terminals DP World, Santos Brasil and BTP have reinforced their security measures and dismissed employees, but said there is no impact on activities.

The port operation could also be impacted in other ways, in addition to an employee stoppage itself. One of the concerns, for example, is in relation to the release of the cargo by inspection agencies, such as the Federal Revenue Service, the Ministry of Agriculture or the National Health Surveillance Agency, which need to verify imports.

According to the National Association of Cargo Transport and Logistics, it is too early to say whether there will be an impact on cargo transport, which will depend on the worsening of the epidemic. In March, the assessment is that the movement has been positive, driven by the soybean harvest.

In general, the assessment of executives and analysts about the current scenario is highly uncertain, and the forecasts seem to change every day. The fear – and the main scenario to be avoided panic, that could lead to a complete halt in activities and logistical chaos in the country.