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Operational drafts in the Port of Santos


27/02/2026 - 10:57 | Author: Proinde

Following the latest hydrographic and bathymetric surveys, the Maritime Authority allowed changes to the operational drafts at Latin America’s largest port complex

On 30 January 2026, the Santos Port Authority updated the current draft and trim limitations applicable to the navigation channel and the berths of the Port of Santos, as detailed in the tables below.

Draft limitations at berths

LocationDepth
(m)
Ship’s draft
(m)
Maximum draft (LT/HT) at Navigation Channel (m)
BERTHBOLLARDSLOAPROJECTLOW TIDEHIGH TIDE1
ALAMOA 0109/1530712.7012.4012.70SECTION IV
13.20/14.20
ALAMOA 0216/2230712.7012.4012.70
ALAMOA 0323/3027212.7012.4012.70
ALAMOA 0430/3627211.7011.4011.70
BTP 0101/1635415.0014.2014.50SECTION IV
13.50/14.50
BTP 0216/3135415.0014.2014.50
BTP 0331/4540015.0014.2014.50
AGEO SP11/2123015.0012.0012.30
AGEO 0101/1123015.0011.9012.20
ILHA BARNABÉ SP455/44621510.3010.0010.30
ILHA BARNABÉ BC446/43721510.3010.0010.30
SABOO 0141/4818410.7010.4010.70
SABOO 0248/5620010.7010.4010.70
SABOO 0356/6420210.7010.4010.70
SABOO 0464/7118413.2011.9012.20
SABOO CORTE72/8019711.7010.3010.60
VALONGOA/L32015.0013.4013.70
SHED 12151/15922013.00(2)(2)SECTION III
13.50/14.50
SHED 12-A5160/16821512.50(3)(3)
SHED 13/14168/17521611.3013.8014.10
SHED 15175/18119811.3014.2014.50
SHED 16/175182/19226713.5013.2014.20
SHED 195192/20327013.0013.0014.00
SHED 20/215203/21325113.0012.9013.90
SHED 22/23213/22325615.0014.0014.30
CURVE 23223/2291728.307.207.50
SHED 25229/2393058.308.308.60
OUTEIRINHOS 03553/2930515.0013.5014.50SECTION II
13.50/14.50
OUTEIRINHOS 02 (NAVY)29/1521015.0014.2014.50
OUTEIRINHOS 01 (NAVY)15/0121015.0014.0014.30
SHED 29275/28422911.7011.4011.70
SHED 30284/29322511.7011.4011.70
SHED 31293/30326011.7011.4011.70
SHED 32303/31324811.7011.4011.70
SHED 33313/32325311.7011.4011.70
SHED 34323/33326311.70311.40311.703
SHED 35.1333/34223813.5013.2013.50
SHED 35.2342/35226013.5013.2013.50
SHEDS 37.1 & 37.25366/37937413.7013.4014.40
SHED 385379/39131913.7013.5014.50
SHED 395391/40128913.7013.5014.50
TEAG517413.0012.8013.80
TEG516813.0013.0014.00
TERMAG409/41627714.20(4)(4)
TGG5402/40927714.2013.4014.40
TECON 3394/41236615.0014.2014.50
TECON 2412/42736715.0014.2014.50
TECON 1.2427/43724516.0014.2014.50
TECON 1.1437/44822016.0014.2014.50
TEV448/46431016.0014.2014.50

Draft limitations at the navigation channel

Maximum operational draft at the navigation channel (zero DHN*)
Channel Section Vessel’s draft
Low tide
(m)
High tide1
(m)
IFrom the anchorage to the fishing terminal at Ponta da Praia13.5014.50
IIFrom the fishing terminal to the passenger terminal13.5014.50
IIIFrom the passenger terminal to Shed 613.5014.50
IV (a)From Shed 6 to Alamoa terminal13.5014.50
IV (b)From Alamoa terminal to the end of Section IV13.2014.20

* Brazilian Navy’s Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation (DHN)

Remarks

1. High tide presents maximum draft values for any high tide height ≥ 1.0 (one) metre.

2. Shed 12:

L.O.A.Low Tide (LT)High Tide (HT)
≤ 19012.7013.00
≤ 20010.1010.40

3. Shed 12-A:

Distance from the quayBoardLow tide
(m)
High tide
(m)
Without fendersStarboard side10.1011.10
With fenders (≥ 5.0 m)14.2014.50

4. Shed 34:

BollardsProject draft
(m)
Low tide
(m)
High tide
(m)
323-32511.7011.4011.70
325-33313.5013.2013.50

5. NAABSA Clause:

The operational drafts of ships in berths that operate with solid bulk that had a favourable assessment of the background study by the Captaincy of the Ports of São Paulo (CPSP) are disclosed in compliance with the NAABSA [Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground] Clause.

The maximum values of operational drafts in berths are limited to the maximum operating draft of the section of the navigation channel in which they are located.

The maximum air draft for berths and navigation channel upstream of the Outeirinhos 03 berth is 67.5 m in relation to zero DHN.

Vessel’s deadweightMinimum draft FWDMaximum trim AFTMinimum propeller immersion
DWT ≤ 10,000≥ 2.5 m2.5 m100%
10,001 ≤ DWT ≤ 20,000≥ 3.0 m2.5 m100%
20,001 ≤ DWT ≤ 50,000≥ 3.5 m3.0 m90%
50,001 ≤ DWT ≤ 80,000≥ 4.0 m1.5% LOA90%
80,001 ≤ DWT ≤ 100,000≥ 5.0 m0.7% LOA90%
100,001 ≤ DWT ≤ 200,000≥ 6.3 m0.7% LOA90%
DWT > 200,000≥ 7.5 m0.7% LOA90%

Source of information

Santos Port Authority website [retrieved 27/02/2025] based on CPSP’s Ordinance nº 48/CPSP-MB of 19 January 2026.

Published 22/08/2022. Updated 27/02/2026.

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