Santos Brasil begins operating with a new service to Asia from August 1 at its Imbituba terminal

As of August 1, Santos Brasil, a reference in port container operations and a provider of complete logistics services, will handle the ASAS long-haul service to Asia at its container terminal in Imbituba (Santa Catarina State). The additional volume expected from the new line is 75 thousand TEU (TEU is a unit equivalent to a 20-foot container), with an about 70% export and 30% import cargo mix.

The joint-venture service of five shipowners will call on a weekly basis, and it presents itself as the best option to serve Southern Brazil¿s import and export markets. ¿Our terminal stands out in the port scenario by offering our customers competitive advantages, such as the ability to handle large vessels, with no maneuvering limitations or weather restrictions¿, said Santos Brasil Commercial Director Marcos Tourinho.

Tecon Imbituba is privileged for being in an open sea inlet with a 15.5-meter depth, and is strategically located in Southern Santa Catarina, 360 kilometers from Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) and Curitiba (Paraná), and 90 kilometers from the state capital Florianópolis, with easy access by the BR-101 highway and the regional rail network. The terminal also offers Depot services inside the operation, as well as logistics support for importers and exporters.

The new service that will begin calling at the terminal has 13 dedicated vessels, including the Hyundai Loyalty, currently the largest container carrier to operate on the Brazilian coast. The vessel has a capacity for up to 8,600 TEUs, is 340 meters long, has a 45.6 meters beam, and a maximum draught of 14.5 meters.

Tecon Imbituba is administrated since 2008 by Santos Brasil. It can handle 450,000 TEUs annually, and has 207,000 square meters of total area and 660 meters of mooring quays. In the same port complex, Santos Brasil operates the General Cargo Terminal (TCG), which is establishing itself in the South of the country as an important concentrating facility for differentiated and large project loads. Since 2008, the Company has invested more than R$ 520 million in expansion work, equipment acquisition, and training.