What draft can your vessel operate at in Suape? The answer depends on its access route, assigned berth, tide and manoeuvring conditions. The full passage, from pilot boarding to the berth and back to sea, needs to be assessed.
Following completion of the internal-channel dredging works, shipowners, charterers and operators planning calls at Suape should review the parameters in Portaria No. 182/2026.
Importers and exporters also have a stake in these developments. Changes in port access can influence vessel deployment and the services available to move their cargo.
Dredging strengthens Suape’s role in regional trade
On 30 January 2026, Brazil’s Ministry of Ports and Airports announced the completion of Suape’s internal-channel deepening works. The announcement reported approximately R$217 million in investment, supporting access by larger vessels and infrastructure for additional container-terminal capacity. Source: Ministry of Ports and Airports, 30 January 2026 (the source website currently requires authentication).
Deeper access can broaden vessel and cargo-planning options, but terminal capacity, berth availability and the vessel’s particulars still determine what is feasible for a specific call.
The construction announcement explains the investment. The portaria provides the operational parameters to check before planning the voyage.
What Portaria No. 182/2026 establishes
Signed on 31 August 2026, Portaria No. 182/2026 sets out Suape’s parameters for conventional manoeuvres, operating capacities, maximum drafts and operational restrictions. It expressly revokes Portaria No. 102 of 2 October 2025.
The document covers access channels, navigation and turning areas, individual berths, vessel-specific requirements for the dredged external channel, pilot boarding positions, mooring and environmental conditions. Its second annex maps the delimited dredged regions. Read the complete official Portaria No. 182/2026 (PDF, Portuguese).
A vessel that meets the entrance-channel requirements must also meet the requirements for its route and assigned berth.
Channel depth is not the vessel’s allowable draft
The portaria describes the dredged external access channel as 6.4 kilometres long, with a minimum width of 210 metres and a minimum depth of 20 metres.
A 20-metre channel depth does not mean a vessel may operate at 20 metres of draft.
Annex I distinguishes two calculations:
| Term in the portaria | Planning meaning |
|---|---|
| CMR (Calado Máximo Recomendado) | Maximum recommended navigation draft, considering the relevant depth, under-keel clearance and tide at the time of passage. |
| CMA (Calado Máximo de Atracação) | Maximum berthing draft, considering the berth parameters, under-keel clearance and the applicable minimum tide over the stay. |
For the berthing calculation, the period considered extends from berthing through the expected departure plus 48 hours. The portaria also states that the maximum recommended draft is limited by the CMA of the berth being used.
Assess the arrival window against the conditions expected throughout the stay, not just at entry.
The route to the berth matters
Suape’s operational areas have different characteristics. The portaria distinguishes the external access channels, external and internal navigation areas, turning basins and approach sections.
A vessel assessment therefore needs to follow the intended route rather than rely on the deepest point shown in a port description.
The berth tables add further parameters, including length overall, deadweight, depth and maximum berthing draft. Their notes and conditions matter as much as the headline figures.
Before confirming a nomination or cargo condition, check that the vessel can complete the planned arrival, stay and departure within the applicable limits.
Suape tide tables: planning beyond high water
The Brazilian Navy publishes a 2026 tide table for Porto de Suape, providing predicted tidal times and heights. The Suape table expresses times in UTC−3, an important detail when coordinating with teams working in other time zones. Official Porto de Suape tide table.
The table complements the portaria’s distinction between navigation and berthing calculations:
- For passage, the relevant tidal input concerns the time of transit.
- For berthing, the calculation considers the lowest tide over the prescribed stay period, including the additional 48 hours.
A high-water arrival alone does not establish a suitable draft for the entire stay.
Tidal predictions are not real-time water-level observations or confirmation of the vessel’s permissible draft. They must be considered with the applicable operational requirements and current conditions.
Vessel-specific restrictions and tug requirements
For the dredged external channel, the portaria includes specific provisions for Suezmax and Aframax tankers, Capesize bulk carriers and container ships.
Depending on the vessel category, these address seasonal conditions, significant wave height, entry and departure drafts, wind limits, tug configurations and Portable Pilot Unit requirements.
The document also addresses pilot boarding positions, night operations and mooring arrangements.
Confirm the tug configuration and terminal arrangements against the intended manoeuvre and the vessel’s condition.
A draft value from a table should not be used independently of the accompanying environmental limits and notes. Where provisions require clarification, the operational interpretation should be confirmed with the relevant authorities and pilotage service.
Official nautical chart: Porto de Suape
The Brazilian Navy’s Chart 912, Porto de Suape, is available through the Navy Hydrographic Center in raster and GeoTIFF formats. Official Chart 912 download page.
The chart and the portaria serve different purposes. The chart provides hydrographic and geographic information; the portaria establishes operational parameters and restrictions. Neither should be treated as a substitute for the other.
Users should check the chart’s edition and correction status against applicable Notices to Mariners. The CHM specifically states that its GeoTIFF files are supplied for academic purposes and must not be used as navigational aids because they are not regularly updated. CHM raster-chart guidance and GeoTIFF notice.
Information to provide before the call
For a preliminary assessment, provide:
- Vessel name, IMO number, type, length overall, beam and deadweight.
- Expected arrival and departure drafts.
- Intended terminal or berth and cargo operation.
- ETA, anticipated stay and material scheduling constraints.
- Relevant manoeuvring limitations and required shore-side or technical support.
These particulars allow the parties to assess vessel suitability, coordinate cargo movements and identify any local arrangements needed before arrival.
Costa Maritime support at Suape
At Costa Maritime, we coordinate local arrangements and shore-side support around the vessel’s intended operation. We work from the vessel particulars, service scope and expected dates to identify what needs to be arranged locally.
We help the vessel’s team obtain the relevant information and coordinate with the parties involved. Operational decisions and approvals remain with the responsible authorities, terminal and pilotage service.
Planning a Suape port call?
Contact Costa Maritime with the vessel particulars, expected drafts, ETA and intended operation to discuss the local coordination and support required.
This article is an informational planning overview, not navigational guidance, operational clearance or a guarantee of vessel acceptance or turnaround time. Consult the complete official documents, applicable notices and current operational information for the proposed call.