BTP completes repairs ahead of schedule and returns operations at its berth
Container terminal concludes a complex engineering project in less than five months, reconstructing a damaged berthing dock after an incident caused by strong winds.
Santos, July 1, 2024 – Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP) announces the resumption of cargo loading and unloading operations at its Berth 1, following the early completion of a complex engineering project executed in less than five months. The container movement at BTP Berth 1 had been preventively suspended by the company on January 19 of this year, after strong winds break the mooring line of a vessel docked at this stretch of the quay.
According to BTP CEO Ricardo Arten, the early completion of repairs at Berth 1 demonstrates the company’s commitment to ensure the container handling capacity at the Port of Santos. “Our priority is to prepare BTP for the next 20 years of operation. With the completion of this work at the berth, we will be able to advance preparations for expanding the terminal’s quay capacity”, says Arten. The container terminal will invest R$ 1.9 billion in the coming years to increase its operational capacity by 40%. The investment package includes the acquisition of four new and modern STS (Ship To Shore) and new fenders.
During the civil works at Berth 1, the container terminal adopted several solutions to ensure productivity and efficiency to customers, explains BTP COO Ricardo Trotti. “We allocated all our port operation equipment to the other two berths, which continued to operate at full capacity throughout the period. We also used the berth under repair to pre-allocate vessel changes, a measure that allowed a reduced waiting time of vessels at BTP quay“, details Trotti.
While the Operations teams maintained high performance at the container terminal, the Engineering and Maintenance professionals, along with other support areas, worked diligently to reconstruct the closed berth to its pre-existing standard.
BTP’s Engineering and Maintenance Manager, Fernando Faccioli de Camargo, highlights the record time for the completion of the repair project. “We safely completed a complex engineering project with numerous technical specifications in less than five months, a project that typically takes much longer. This is a milestone for the entire terminal and demonstrates the level of commitment from the BTP team, technical consultants, and executing companies to the project“, emphasizes Camargo. More than 115 people worked directly on the project, including BTP professionals and contractors.
Working project for repair of BTP berth was divided into three phases, which included the following activities: diagnosis, planning, contracting specialized companies, technical mobilization of engineering resources, driving new submerged piles, reconstructing the concrete slab, reinstalling rails used in gantry crane operations, and inspecting fenders.
About BTP:
In operation since 2013, BTP – a private terminal for public use – has established itself as the largest container terminal in South America. Located in the Port of Santos, the company was responsible for remediating one of the largest environmental liabilities in the country’s port area. With 1,108 metres of quay, prepared to receive three new panamax class ships simultaneously, the terminal serves vessels with routes to all continents, also providing cabotage and feeder services. A joint venture between Terminal Investment Limited and APM Terminals, BTP has obtained the international certifications OAS (Authorised Economic Operator), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 14001:2015 (Environment) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety). More information can be found on the www.btp.com.br portal and on the official social networks: @brasilterminalportuario