It is open clash in Brazil between the Danish group Maersk and the authorities of the Mega Scalo di Santos, the largest in South America. The auction for new concessions seems to be made to exclude historical companies for the benefit of the Chinese. Cause to nine zeros
Never as now it becomes essential to preside over the great commercial ports and it is war to find the right space in the right landing. It is a battle without savings and the last concerns the new container terminal in Santos, in Brazil: it is the largest port of Latin America, whose auction is expected by the end of the year. The goal is to expand the current ability to handle containers in the airport that already hosts terminals of companies such as Santos Brasil, BTP, DPW and Ecport. The project approved by the government involves the construction of four moorings, which will allow a 50% increase in the capacity. Today the Brazilian airport moves about 6 million teu (the standard measurement of length in the transport of ISO containers, corresponds to 20 total feet, equal to 6.1 meters) per year: when the new terminal is operational, it will be possible to reach up to 9 million teu. The news is that the Danish group Maersk He presented a cause in San Paolo against the Brazilian maritime authority (Antaq) and its general manager, according to a document viewed by the press agency Reuters. The cause asks for “procedural corrections to guarantee a fair process” in the assignment of the Tecon 10 terminal in the port of Santos.
It’s up to the Court of Auditors
–
The first consequence: the rules of the auction, defined by Antaq, are currently subject to revision by the Court of the Brazilian Federal Auditors (TCU). The private group MSC, led by the Neapolitan owner Gianluigi Aponte, also hopes in a change in the rules. Patricio Junior, Regional Director of Investments at the controlled Terminal Investment Limited (Til) of MSC, said the company is evaluating a legal action if the TCU does not require changes to the process. Ultimately, the current rules would exclude Maersk, MSC and other operators already present with Terminal Container in Santos from the first round of offers for the construction and management of the new Megaterinal, which will require an estimated investment of 5.6 billion of Reais (1 billion dollars). This situation could open the way for Asian competitors or local actors such as JBS Terinais, the new port unit of the Brazilian giant of the JBS meat, which last year detected a terminal container in Itajaí, in southern Brazil. Antaq, which has called Tecon 10 as the largest port auction in the history of Brazil, says that its rules are designed to encourage competition. And he added that if in the first phase of the auction they do not receive valid proposals, the operators already present with Terminal Container in Santos will be able to participate in the following shifts, provided that the other participations in the port complex. A nice mess, with astronomical figures at stake.