Porto Sudeste, in Sepetiba Bay, Brazil, is building new ‘dolphins’ to expand its liquid bulk operations, following increased oil flows in the country. ‘Oil production continues to grow and this changes the logistics game. With more oil to flow and export, the demand for transshipment operations and solutions that gain scale and reduce queues and waiting times increases. And to keep up with this pace, we need more logistical capacity. And Porto Sudeste comes in as an alternative to unlock the flow, with predictability and safety,’ comments Ulisses Oliveira, director of corporate affairs and sustainability at Porto Sudeste.
Dolphins are structures built at sea that serve as support points for ships during cargo operations. They function as mooring and mooring areas, helping to keep vessels stable while material transfer occurs. In the case of Porto Sudeste, they will be used for counter-board transshipment operations, which consists of the transfer between ships moored, one next to the other, of crude oil produced in offshore fields. In all, the project will entail the installation of six mooring structures, two mooring structures and a support platform with electrical and firefighting systems.
The start of the works is scheduled for the next few days. To carry out the activities, specialised maritime equipment such as ferries and port tugs will be used. The activities will be carried out from Monday to Saturday, uninterruptedly, within the limits and periods of sound emission defined by legislation, with continuous acoustic and environmental monitoring. A specialised team will monitor and inspect the works on a daily basis.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of December 2026, consolidating a new front of operation at Porto Sudeste and expanding the terminal’s presence in the region’s logistics dynamics.
