The Ministry of Ports and Airports invested R$ 153.9 million in the modernization of the Amarópolis Lock, in Rio Grande do Sul. The initiative aims to strengthen inland waterway infrastructure and ensure greater safety and efficiency for inland navigation. The investment is part of the public policy for maintenance of locks and navigable waterways conducted by the MPor in partnership with the National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (Dnit). In 2025 alone, over R$ 500 million were allocated for maintenance and modernization of inland waterways in different regions of the country, ensuring better navigation conditions for cargo and passenger vessels.
According to the national secretary of Inland Waterways and Navigation of the Ministry of Ports and Airports, Otto Luiz Burlier, modernization of these structures is essential to ensure continuity of operations on Brazilian inland waterways. "Locks are strategic structures for inland navigation. Investing in the modernization and maintenance of these structures means ensuring safety for vessels, efficiency in cargo transport and better mobility conditions for populations that depend on the rivers," the secretary highlighted.
In addition to the Amarópolis lock, Rio Grande do Sul has four other locks in operation: Bom Retiro do Sul, Dom Marco, Fandango and Anel de Dom Marco. Together, they enable navigation to continue in river stretches with different elevation levels. The state is also home to the oldest lock in operation in Brazil, evidencing the tradition of inland navigation in the region.
How a lock works
Locks are hydraulic structures that function as a kind of "elevator for vessels". They allow boats and cargo convoys to ascend or descend river stretches that present differences in elevation along the route.
The system works by means of a chamber that fills or empties with water in a controlled manner. When the vessel enters the structure, the water level is adjusted until it reaches the height of the next stretch of river, allowing the journey to continue safely.
According to the director of Inland Waterway Management of the MPor, Eliezé Bulhões, maintenance of these structures is fundamental to ensure navigability of inland waterways. "The lock is essential equipment to allow safe passage of vessels in rivers with elevation differences. The modernization of these structures increases the reliability of operations and helps maintain adequate navigation conditions on Brazilian inland waterways," he explained.
Efficient and sustainable transport.
In addition to ensuring river navigability, structures such as locks contribute to increasing the efficiency of inland waterway transport, considered one of the most sustainable modes for large cargo volumes. A single vessel or convoy can transport large quantities of goods with lower fuel consumption per ton transported and lower pollutant emissions when compared to road transport.
This helps reduce logistics costs and strengthens the role of inland waterways as an efficient alternative for transport in the country. The modernization of these structures also improves navigation safety conditions and reinforces Brazilian logistics infrastructure, benefiting regions that depend directly on rivers for the transport of people and goods.
Source: https://www.gov.br/portos-e-aeroportos/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/03/ministerio-de-portos-e-aeroportos-investe-r-153-9-milhoes-na-modernizacao-da-eclusa-de-amaropolis-rs
