Environmental license clears the next dredging stage at the Port of Natal
The authorization allows the Rio Potengi turning basin to be deepened to up to 12.5 meters and provides for the removal of up to 1.43 million cubic meters of sediment. The project could allow the terminal to serve larger vessels, but its execution schedule has yet to be defined.
Companhia Docas do Rio Grande do Norte (Codern) received an environmental license from the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Meio Ambiente do Rio Grande do Norte (Idema) to dredge the turning basin of the Rio Potengi. The document was signed on October 27 and authorizes the removal of up to 1.43 million cubic meters of sediment from the area used by ships during maneuvers before berthing.
With the intervention, the basin’s depth is expected to reach 12.5 meters. According to Codern, the change could allow larger vessels to operate and increase the cargo-transport capacity of the Port of Natal. The company also said it intends to achieve a draft of 11 meters after the work is completed.
Dredging the turning basin complements the work carried out in the port’s access channel. The schedule for this new stage will still be defined by Codern together with the company responsible for carrying out the work. The sources state that the project will be financed with federal funds, but do not detail the amount allocated specifically to this stage.
The license establishes environmental monitoring measures during the intervention. These include monitoring water and sediment quality, aquatic organisms, and turbidity caused by suspended particles in the water. The disposal site for the dredged material and the area around Praia da Redinha must also be monitored to identify possible changes in coastal dynamics.
The document also includes measures to reduce risks to marine fauna, such as turtles, whales, and dolphins. Codern must maintain a communication channel with artisanal fishers and communities in the area affected by the project, as well as consult the region’s fishing colony.
According to Idema, the environmental review process took about four months. With the license issued, the next step is to organize the dredging work and define the service schedule, which could improve maneuvering conditions and allow the terminal to serve larger vessels.