The Solaris group, which operates the Santa Catarina Port Terminal (Tesc) in São Francisco do Sul (SC), announced that work began last Tuesday (7) with the placement of the first pile for the pier expansion project, in which R$ 100 million will be invested and which is expected to be completed in 2026.
According to the company, after the work is completed, the terminal will be able to receive two ships at the same time and also larger vessels. According to the company, the pier expansion is part of the first phase of the terminal's modernization and expansion plan, which foresees additional investments of R$ 500 million in projects currently under review by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (Mpor), with approval expected by early May 2026.
The pier expansion aims to capitalize on gains from dredging of Babitonga Bay, which will increase the access channel draft to 16 meters, and to accommodate larger capacity vessels and ship classes superior to the current Panamax vessels. The expectation is to increase handling capacity, particularly in the segments of fertilizers, soybeans, corn, meal, sugar and other dry bulk cargo, as well as general cargo, steel products and project cargo.
The Solaris group explained that the first expansion phase, with the pier expansion work, will not affect terminal activities. It also stated that the second phase, scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026, with investments to increase storage capacity, in road reception and in handling systems, was also planned to be carried out without significant operational impacts on Tesc.
The company, which is controlled by Oman Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman, clarified that the pier work was provided for in the lease renewal process and was one of the commitments assumed by Tesc with the São Francisco do Sul Port Authority. The Group completed the purchase of the terminal's and Agribrasil's controlling stake in January of this year.
According to the company, the expansion plan includes decarbonization initiatives, increased energy efficiency and reduction of operational impacts, as well as job creation and the expectation of attracting new business. Stéphane Frappat, CEO of Solaris, said that the pier expansion is the first step in the project to increase Tesc's cargo handling. "We are preparing the terminal for a new level of capacity, efficiency and competitiveness, in line with the evolution of Brazilian foreign trade," he stated.
