The Santos Port Authority (APS) has been a regular member of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, since March 26th. The announcement of the membership was made in a publication on the association's website.
According to APS, the initiative connects the port to a global network focused on integration and the exchange of administrative and operational experience among the world's major port complexes, in an entity dedicated to sustainability, the environment and climate resilience in the maritime sector.
With the membership, the São Paulo port authority will have access to the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) platform, created to certify the environmental performance of vessels and which identifies ships that exceed the emission reduction requirements established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and calculates the amount of greenhouse gases released by fleets.
The ESI, explained APS, is the standard tool used worldwide by port authorities to reward shipowners who meet or exceed environmental targets, currently featuring more than six thousand ships with valid scores registered on the platform. According to the entity, access to this database will allow Santos Port to organize and apply its tariff discount policy for green ships more efficiently, encouraging the berthing of vessels that adopt best global practices in energy transition.
Beto Mendes, APS Director of Operations, stated that joining IAPH brings international sustainability standards to Santos, such as the ESI, and connects the São Paulo port complex to worldwide debates on logistics efficiency and decarbonization. Furthermore, it will allow direct participation of the port authority in the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP).
Managed by IAPH, the program is guided by the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and acts as a global reference bank for port best practices. It coordinates international efforts in six areas: digitalization, infrastructure, health and safety, environmental care, communities, and climate and energy.
APS also informed that the WPSP will become one of its platforms and that it will use the tool to integrate Santos Port into global goals, as well as share the socio-environmental projects developed in the Santos complex with other ports. It also explained that IAPH conferences are the world's leading forums for debating new port sector trends.
In 2025, APS participated in the event in Kobe, Japan. In 2026, the conference will be in London, with a focus on climate resilience. The organization's global calendar provides that the 2027 meeting will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
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