Super Terminais has begun relocating a floating infrastructure, weighing approximately 4 thousand tons, departing from Manaus with a destination of Itacoatiara, located in the interior of Amazonas. This structure aims to enable the reception of ships during the dry period, assisting in maintaining the transport of goods destined for the Manaus Industrial Pole, even when river levels decrease.
The transfer, which started on Friday (2), is part of the project named Operation Dry 2026 and received a financial contribution of R$ 70 million. The equipment will be installed on the banks of the Amazon River, occupying an area of 300 thousand square meters owned by Super Terminais, situated about 1.4 km from the public port of Itacoatiara.
How the system will work
The module transferred from Manaus has dimensions of approximately 240 meters in length by 24 meters in width. It will be positioned about 100 meters from the bank and will have a draft of 34 meters, indicating the available depth for navigation. Furthermore, the structure will be equipped with three electric cranes, intended for moving cargo from ships to barges.
Operations will be conducted on a 24-hour daily regime, divided into three shifts. Ships can unload their cargo in Itacoatiara, which will subsequently be transported to Manaus. The route between Itacoatiara and Manaus covers approximately 200 kilometers, equivalent to 108 nautical miles, with an estimated travel time of about 18 hours from Manaus and 12 hours on the return trip.
In addition to cargo handling functionality, the base will offer various support services to ships, including fuel and diesel oil supply, specialized docking teams, divers, and port repair services. Security will be guaranteed 24 hours, there will be emergency medical care, waste collection service, fire prevention system, and connectivity for activity monitoring. A land structure will also be provided to supply drinking water and food.
Reason for relocation to Itacoatiara
During dry periods, the drop in river levels can compromise the navigation of large vessels up to Manaus. The decision to move the infrastructure to Itacoatiara aims to establish an alternative so that such ships can unload their products before they are sent to the capital via barges.
This initiative aims to mitigate the effects of drought on the entire logistics chain, thus preventing any stoppage in the supply of inputs and products destined for the Manaus Industrial Pole. According to Super Terminais, the structure was designed to operate as a temporary transshipment point during the dry season.