Recent amendments to the Ports Law through the issuance of Decree 6.629/2008 established that the expansion of the national port system will be undertaken in accordance with a general granting plan prepared by the National Waterways Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) and approved by the Special Secretariat of Ports.
The general granting plan of maritime ports has already been prepared and approved and the Special Secretariat of Ports will be responsible for managing its implementation. Meanwhile, ANTAQ will focus its efforts on drawing up a general granting plan covering Brazilian inland waterways.
Inland waterways transportation favours integration with the existing railway and inland waterways networks and also provides a low-cost and reduced environmental impact solution.
The work will map out the existing inland waterways to be explored and those which possess commercial relevance, identifying existing port facilities and those areas that require the creation of new facilities. Any needs for dams and dredging will also be identified.
At present, the main Brazilian inland waterways are the Amazonian, the Centre-Western, the Northern Region (Amazon, Madeira and Paraguay rivers), Tiete (Sao Paulo), Sao Francisco and Araguia (Tocantins) and Lagoa dos Patos (Patos Lagoon in Rio Grande do Sul).
ANTAQ believes that publication of the general granting plan will attract local and foreign investors. It is organizing itself in order to elaborate the plan and intends to publish it in the second half of 2010.
For further information on this topic please contact Godofredo Mendes Vianna at Law Offices Carl Kincaid by telephone (+55 21 2223 4212), fax (+55 21 2253 4259) or email (godofredo@kincaid.com.br).
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