The Santos Port Authority (APS) published, last Friday (15th), the Port Authority Standard (NAP) 018, which governs the receipt of information relating to the Discharge and Loading Bulletin and the Cargo Manifest at the Port of Santos.
With the new regulation, information from the Discharge and Loading Bulletin will be accepted exclusively in electronic format, through the Electronic Data Superhighway (SED) or through electronic file exchange carried out by integrators duly validated with the APS.
According to the port authority, the measure is part of the advancement of the digitalization and operational integration process of Latin America's largest port complex, seeking to increase efficiency, traceability and security of logistics operations.
The standard also establishes that information relating to the Cargo Manifest will be accepted only in electronic form, necessarily registered in the Paperless Port system. The data must be associated with the call number of the Mercante System, linked to the Virtual Unique Document (DUV).
According to the APS, non-compliance with the obligations set forth in NAP 018 will be analyzed by the port authority, which may adopt administrative measures in accordance with the institution's internal procedures. Among the planned actions are formal communication to the port operator, setting of deadlines for correction and eventual referral to the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), as determined by current legislation.
The APS further instructed port operators and authorized agents to fully review the standard for detailed knowledge of the new operating procedures and technical requirements.
The new regulation reinforces the movement toward digital modernization of Brazilian port operations, in a scenario increasingly focused on automation, data integration and logistics efficiency.
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