Santos Port Authority (APS) and the National Center for Transatlantic Navigation (Centronave) have reached an agreement to end a judicial dispute that began in 2022 involving the collection of waterway access infrastructure tariffs at Santos Port.
Under the settlement, APS is to receive approximately R$ 416.9 million, corresponding to funds that remained deposited in court during the litigation period, based on the audit as of June 30, 2026.
The agreement, however, still needs to be approved by the 4th Federal Court of the Judicial Subsection of Santos, in case no. 5000363-29.2022.4.03.6104.
Reclassification of Rate Table I
One of the main points of the settlement is the tariff reclassification of Centronave members under Table I, relating to Waterway Access Infrastructure.
The tariff structure of Santos Port comprises different tables intended for services provided by the Port Authority. Table I corresponds specifically to infrastructure related to waterway access for vessels.
The agreement also establishes criteria for the application of tariff discounts related to frequency and navigation modality.
According to APS, the criteria shall be objective and applied in an equitable manner to users meeting the same conditions, regardless of whether they are Centronave members or not.
How the dispute began
The controversy began in 2022, when shipowners and operators challenged the full collection of waterway access tariffs in court.
Among the arguments presented was the understanding that planned investments in port infrastructure had not yet been carried out.
Documents from APS itself record that judicial decisions determined, at that time, the postponement of implementing the new Table I structure for operations by shipping companies affiliated with Centronave.
During the proceedings, funds corresponding to the tariffs remained deposited in court.
Since September 2025, APS has also applied a 34.6% discount on tariffs covered by the measure, pursuant to DIPRE Ordinance no. 191/2025.
Resources return to APS cash flow
With approval of the agreement, new judicial deposits related to the dispute are to be terminated and payments will resume being made directly to the Port Authority.
The release of approximately R$ 416.9 million also depends on judicial approval and implementation of the procedures provided for in the agreement.
For APS, settling the dispute also represents a reduction in uncertainties related to tariff revenue flow at Santos Port.
Investments enter the context
The outcome occurs at a time when the Port Authority states it maintains an investment plan of approximately R$ 12.5 billion, including federal resources.
Among the interventions cited by APS are projects related to expansion of internal railway infrastructure and other works that already have formalized contracts or are underway.
The company links the agreement to a strategy of negotiated resolution of historical liabilities and controversies.
According to APS, measures adopted by current management have already resulted in the elimination of approximately R$ 3.5 billion in liabilities, including other processes and obligations previously in place.
Next step is approval
Despite the agreement reached between the parties, the case is not yet definitively closed from a judicial standpoint.
The next stage will be analysis of the proposal by the 4th Federal Court of Santos. Only after approval can the procedures provided for in the settlement be implemented, including the release of funds deposited in court.
The case closes a dispute that began four years ago and again highlights the relationship between tariff structure, infrastructure investments and costs associated with waterway access at Brazil's largest port complex.
```
