Major expansion planned for Brazil port

Major expansion planned for Brazil port Brazil's Port of Septiba, located near Rio de Janeiro and used primarily for coastal trade services in years past, will be expanded to handle major containerships and become a force in international trades, according to the American Association of Port Authorities.
   A report released by the AAPA said Septiba Tecon, a terminal operating company owned by Brazil's national steel company, Companhia Sider'rgica Nacional, plans to boost annual handling capacity from 280,000 TEUs to 400,000 TEUs.
   The company plans to purchase two super post-Panamax container cranes with the ability to work 8,000-TEU containerships. It will also buy two rubber-tired gantries to work in the container yard.
   In addition, the local port authority has allocated some $55 million (100 million Brazilian reais) to enlarge the shipping channel to accommodate larger vessels.
   The report quoted Septiba Tecon Terminal Manager Marcus Vinicius Santarem as saying the infrastructure improvements will make Septiba a 'major national hub port.'