Unlocking Brazil’s maritime potential: expanding ports for post-panamax operations

The Brazilian port sector faces an urgent need for modernization to meet the demands of the contemporary global economy. A significant challenge lies in the shallow depth of access channels, which hinders the navigation of larger ships with deeper drafts, and the fact that many ports are constrained...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Marques Pimenta, Adriane, Puig Duran, Martí|||0009-0007-1973-189X, Bridi Mallmann, Danielle Laura, Albuquerque Nóbrega, Rodrigo, Darbra Roman, Rosa Maria|||0000-0003-4076-6898
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/432795
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/432795
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050938
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Brazilian ports
Port modernization
Port infrastructure
Post-Panamax ships
Port expansion
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química::Impacte ambiental
Descripción
Sumario:The Brazilian port sector faces an urgent need for modernization to meet the demands of the contemporary global economy. A significant challenge lies in the shallow depth of access channels, which hinders the navigation of larger ships with deeper drafts, and the fact that many ports are constrained by the proximity of large cities, limiting their expansion. This study aims to identify Brazilian ports with the potential to accommodate post-Panamax ships, a critical component of modern maritime trade. Using a multi-criteria evaluation system, five key criteria were selected: water depth, land capacity for expansion, dredging requirements, water accessibility, and transport infrastructure. These criteria were systematically applied to 210 Brazilian port facilities, analyzed through QGIS 3.38.3 software using satellite imagery and literature sources. To prioritize the most suitable ports, Pareto analysis and quartile analysis were employed, resulting in the identification of 58 port facilities as prime candidates for expansion. This research provides a data-driven framework to guide the modernization of Brazilian ports, positioning them to better serve the growing demands of the global maritime industry.