The Port of Rio de Janeiro has completed an approximately USD 32 million dredging and engineering project that will allow the Brazilian gateway to accommodate larger containerships and increase operational capacity, according to DynaLiners.
Following the completion of the works, the port is now authorised to receive vessels up to 366 metres in length, while channel depth has been increased from 15.0 metres to 16.2 metres.
The improvements also raise the maximum operational draught to 15.3 metres, enabling access for larger deep-sea vessels.
The first ship to call under the new conditions was the MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel MSC Katrina, which has an overall length of 366 metres, a beam of 48.4 metres and a carrying capacity of 14,100 TEU.
The channel upgrade is expected to strengthen Rio de Janeiro’s competitiveness by improving access for larger vessels and increasing cargo handling capabilities at one of Brazil’s key maritime gateways.
