Impact of the worst drought in decades on navigability in the Amazon region
The Amazon region is facing the worst drought in recent decades, according to an assessment by the National Centre for Monitoring and Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN, in Portuguese), which directly impacts the reduction of the depth of navigable rivers in the region.
Given the natural obstacles to the movement of vessels with large draughts, the use of smaller vessels was seen as an immediate and temporary solution to maintain the regular flow of goods transported by ship. This request was submitted to the regulatory authority, ANTAQ, to mitigate the negative effects of the drought on the economy and the daily lives of the local population.
Taking into account the needs of the local population, the director Lima Filho, rapporteur of the request, issued an order "ad referendum," authorizing, exceptionally, for a period of 90 days, the conclusion of fixed-term charter contracts for the cabotage of all types of goods transported by sea. In the current scenario, the authorization is limited to the northern region only.
This decision will be subject to a new analysis by the ANTAQ Board of Directors at an ordinary Board meeting.
The Maritime team is available in case of doubts.