Port of Suape

SUAPE Complexo Industrial Portuário Governador Eraldo Gueiros, a Pernambuco state public company based in Ipojuca, is the port authority.^{1, 2}

www.suape.pe.gov.br

Capitania dos Portos de Pernambuco (CPPE), Brazilian Navy. Local rules: NPCP-2021/PE, approved by Portaria CPPE No. 6 of 24 September 2021, as revised up to Portaria No. 34/CPPE of 23 June 2026.^{1, 3, 4, 5}

• Pilotage is compulsory in Zona de Praticagem ZP-09 (Recife e Suape) (NPCP-2021/PE, item 0414).
• Federal law (Lei 9.537/1997, art. 13, §6, added by Lei 14.813/2024) makes pilotage compulsory in every pilotage zone for vessels above 500 gross tonnage, except cases the Maritime Authority sets in specific regulation (exempt vessels must report their manoeuvres) and Brazilian-flag regional craft, pushers, barges and barge convoys classed only for inland navigation.
• Local rules: in the dredged channel, Suezmax, Aframax, Capesize and container ships need a Portable Pilot Unit, and container ships need two pilots (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026); non-conventional container ships and inner-port tankers need two pilots and a portable pilot unit for every manoeuvre (Portarias SUAPE No. 136/2019, No. 044/2021, No. 037/2021 and No. 063/2021).
• Provider listed by the port authority: Pernambuco Pilots, three pilot launches.^{3, 6, 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}

• As of 21 October 2026. Governing documents: Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026 (signed 30 September 2026, Annex I) and, while the dredged channel ramp-up lasts, Portaria SUAPE No. 103/2025 (signed 2 October 2025).
• Method: channel CMR = P - FAQ + H, where H is the DHN predicted tide (tide table, TM-DHN) at the time of transit; berth CMA = P - FAQ + A, where A is the lowest DHN tide between the berthing day and 48 hours after the expected sailing day. Datum: DHN chart datum (nível de redução). The CMR is capped by the CMA of the berth used. All figures below are at zero tide; add the tide as described.
• Channel CMR for the season 16 April until 30 September / the season 1 October until 15 April: natural NE and alternative SE channels 12.1 / 12.8 m; outer navigation basin 17.29 / 17.39 m; outer turning basin 15.30 / 15.40 m; inner navigation and inner turning basins 15.55 m; approach channel 15.30 m; inner basin to the Vard Promar quay 8.00 m.
• Dredged east channel CMR by significant wave height (Hs), same two seasons. Suezmax and Aframax tankers: Hs up to 1.0 m, entry 17.6 / 17.9 m, exit 17.7 / 18.1 m; Hs up to 1.5 m, entry 16.9 / 17.2 m, exit 17.5 / 17.1 m; Hs up to 2.0 m, entry 16.3 / 16.8 m, exit 16.8 / 16.9 m; Hs up to 3.0 m, entry 16.2 / 16.8 m, exit 16.4 / 16.8 m. Tanker transits are also limited to Hs up to 1.7 m and mean wind up to 20 knots. Container ships: Hs up to 1.0 m, entry 17.4 / 17.4 m, exit 17.8 / 18.0 m; Hs up to 1.5 m, entry 16.7 / 17.0 m, exit 17.4 / 17.3 m; Hs up to 2.0 m, entry 16.2 / 16.8 m, exit 17.2 / 17.1 m; Hs up to 3.0 m, entry 15.9 / 16.8 m, exit 16.9 / 17.1 m. Capesize: 17.6 / 17.7 m plus tide. If the wave sensor fails: tankers 16.2 / 16.8 m plus tide, container ships 15.9 / 16.8 m plus tide.
• Ramp-up (Portaria SUAPE No. 103/2025; its draft limits apply in the dredged channel while it lasts): Block 3, LOA up to 250 m, 13.77 m; Block 4, LOA up to 250 m, 15.30 m simulated maximum; Block 5, LOA up to 275 m, 15.57 m with dynamic positioning (DP) or 15.30 m without; Block 6, Suezmax tankers, 17.30 m simulated maximum. Blocks 1 and 2 set LOA limits only. The block in force is not published; our operations desk can confirm it with the pilots.
• Berth CMA for conventional manoeuvres: CMU-A 9.8 m; CMU-B 13.6 m; PGL1-A 13.5 m; PGL1-B 13.2 m; PGL2-A 13.4 m; PGL2-B 14.0 m; PGL3-A and PGL3-B 17.3 m; Cais 01 14.6 m; Cais 02 and Cais 03 15.2 m; Cais 04 14.8 m; Cais 05 15.0 m; APMT-02 12.70 m; EAS dry dock 5.70 m; Promar 0 and Promar 1 7.70 m; Promar floating dock 6.70 m.
• Non-conventional container ships (port authority portarias in force alongside No. 190/2026): LOA up to 305.0 m with beam over 46.0 m or LOA x beam over 13,500 m² (No. 044/2021), and LOA between 337 m and 366.99 m with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m (No. 037/2021): berth CMR 14.4 m at Cais 1, 14.1 m at Cais 2 and 11.3 m at Cais 3, plus the DHN predicted tide.
• Container ships between 306 m and 336.99 m LOA, or with beam between 46 m and 48.99 m, or LOA x beam over 13,500 m² (No. 136/2019): berth CMR 14.4 m at Cais 1, 14.1 m at Cais 2 and 11.3 m at Cais 3, plus the DHN predicted tide, with mean wind up to 15 knots.
• Tankers in the inner port between 274 m and 298.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m (No. 063/2021): that portaria refers to the general draft tables of Portaria No. 002-DGP-2019, since replaced by later general portarias; our operations desk confirms the applicable draft with the port authority.^{1, 12, 7, 8, 13, 10, 11, 4}

• As of 21 October 2026 (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026, Tables 2, 3 and 4 and item 2.5).
• Berth maximums, LOA and DWT: CMU-A 160.0 m, 20,000 t; CMU-B 280.0 m, 80,000 t; PGL1-A and PGL1-B 200.0 m, 45,000 t; PGL2-A and PGL2-B 280.0 m, 90,000 t; PGL3-A 280.0 m and PGL3-B 300.0 m, 170,000 t; Cais 01 275.0 m, Cais 02 and Cais 03 305.0 m, Cais 04 and Cais 05 300.0 m, all 120,000 t (Cais 01, 02 and 03 are continuous, so their lengths can be combined for ships over 305 m); APMT-02 305.00 m, 178,403 t; EAS dry dock 500,000 t, no fixed length or beam; Promar 0 190.00 m, 50,000 t; Promar 1 120.00 m, 9,600 t; Promar floating dock 151.20 m, 16,000 t, beam at most 33 m.
• Dredged channel envelopes: Suezmax up to LOA 278.99 m and beam 48.99 m; Aframax up to 258.99 m and 44.99 m; Capesize 273.99 m and 46.99 m or 310.99 m and 52.99 m, or smaller; container ships 366.99 m and 48.99 m or 353.99 m and 54.99 m, or smaller.
• Ramp-up LOA limits in the dredged channel (Portaria SUAPE No. 103/2025): Block 1 200 m, Block 2 225 m, Blocks 3 and 4 250 m, Block 5 275 m, Block 6 Suezmax tankers.
• Non-conventional classes with standing port authority rules, in force alongside No. 190/2026: container ships up to 305.0 m LOA with beam over 46.0 m or LOA x beam over 13,500 m² (No. 044/2021); container ships between 306 m and 336.99 m LOA or with beam between 46 m and 48.99 m (No. 136/2019); container ships between 337 m and 366.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m (No. 037/2021); tankers in the inner port between 274 m and 298.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m, or with LOA x beam of 13,500 m² or more (No. 063/2021).
• Other larger ships are 'special conditions' manoeuvres, authorised case by case by the Maritime Authority, the port authority and the pilots.^{1, 12, 7, 8, 4}

Semidiurnal tide (two high and two low waters a day), mesotidal. Mean range about 2 m at spring tides and about 0.7 m at neap tides (port authority). Draft calculations use the predicted tide from the Brazilian Navy DHN tide table (Tábua de Marés, TM-DHN). The Navy's CHM publishes the table for the Porto de Suape station (08°23.9' S, 034°57.6' W; nautical chart 906).^{14, 1, 15}

• Outer port, sheltered by an L-shaped rock breakwater: multi-use quay berths CMU-A and CMU-B (LNG) and liquid bulk piers PGL1-A, PGL1-B, PGL2-A, PGL2-B, PGL3-A and PGL3-B, used by Transpetro, Decal, Ultracargo, Pandenor and TMP Terminais for crude oil, oil products, LPG, naphtha and chemicals.
• Inner port: Cais 01 (Tecon Suape and general cargo operators: containers, vehicles, general cargo, petroleum coke), Cais 02 and Cais 03 (Tecon Suape, containers), Cais 04 (bulk, general and project cargo, vehicles), Cais 05 (clinker, slag, petroleum coke, general and project cargo), APMT-02 (APM Terminals, containers), and the Estaleiro Atlântico Sul (EAS) and Vard Promar shipyards.
• Liquid bulk is the largest cargo: 14,704,637 t of 24.25 million t in 2025.^{1, 16, 17, 18}

• Customs: Receita Federal, Inspetoria da Receita Federal no Porto de Suape (IRF - Porto de Suape).
• Health and free pratique: ANVISA, Coordenação de Vigilância em Portos, Aeroportos e Fronteiras em Pernambuco, with an ANVISA office in the Port Authority Building at Suape.
• Immigration and crew changes: Polícia Federal, Superintendência Regional em Pernambuco; its maritime police (NEPOM) and immigration desks have rooms in the Port Authority Building.
• Agriculture: MAPA (VIGIAGRO), at the Port of Suape.^{19, 20, 21, 22}

Recife/Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC), Recife, run by Aena Brasil. Airlines listed by the operator: Azul, GOL, LATAM and TAP. Receita Federal and the Polícia Federal keep units at the airport. About 42 km by road to the port, about 40 minutes without traffic (approximate OSRM route).^{23, 24, 19, 25}

• As of 21 October 2026 (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026; depths to DHN chart datum).
• Dredged east access channel: 6.4 km (3.46 NM) long, minimum width 210 m, minimum depth 20 m, marked by 8 buoys (3 red, 3 green, 2 virtual).
• Natural NE and alternative SE channels 14.80 m. Outer navigation basin 18.39 m; outer turning basin 16.40 m; inner navigation basin and inner turning basin 16.25 m; approach channel 16.00 m; inner basin to the Vard Promar quay 9.00 m.
• Berth depths: CMU-A 10.2 m; CMU-B 14.0 m; PGL1-A 13.9 m; PGL1-B 13.6 m; PGL2-A 13.8 m; PGL2-B 14.4 m; PGL3-A and PGL3-B 17.7 m; Cais 01 14.9 m; Cais 02 and Cais 03 15.5 m; Cais 04 15.1 m; Cais 05 15.3 m; APMT-02 13.00 m.
• The port authority reports that the Navy homologated the new inner depths after dredging completed in January 2026.^{1, 26}

• As of 21 October 2026 (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026 unless stated).
• Visibility: manoeuvres only with visibility above 500 yards.
• Night: night is set by evening civil twilight (DHN Nautical Almanac); jobs needing daylight must be scheduled at least one hour before it, and night manoeuvres need the aids to navigation working without restriction.
• Night LOA limits: 280 m for landfall to outer-port berths, within each berth's maximum; 230 m for entry and berthing at PGL-2; 280 m at PGL-3A and PGL-3B; 135 m for side-by-side berthing; 230 m for side-by-side unberthing at PGL-2, PGL-3A and PGL-3B.
• Ships with steel-wire mooring lines may not berth at night but may unberth at any time.
• Minimum gap between ships when berthing: 10% of the arriving ship's LOA.
• Dredged channel: priority goes to ships with drafts above 14.0 m; during the ramp-up, the draft limits of Portaria SUAPE No. 103/2025 apply. Ships with a smaller draft may use the channel only with prior port authority authorisation.
• Mooring at PGLs: two mooring launches when ships have steel wires, berth side by side, or are tankers over 200 m LOA; at PGL-3A and PGL-3B, at least four linesmen per mooring station.
• Container ships between 306 m and 336.99 m LOA or with beam between 46 m and 48.99 m (Portaria SUAPE No. 136/2019), and between 337 m and 366.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m (No. 037/2021): passage through the inner port access in daylight only.
• Tankers in the inner port between 274 m and 298.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m (No. 063/2021): entry to and exit from the inner basin only with mean wind up to 20 knots, with two mooring launches and at least two mooring teams of four linesmen.
• Canal 1 of the naval cluster: ships over 190 m LOA and 33 m beam manoeuvre only by day, with wind up to 10 knots (NPCP-2021/PE as amended by Capitania Portaria No. 32/CPPE of 26 January 2026).^{1, 8, 4, 10, 11, 12}

• General rules (Portaria SUAPE No. 022/2022 of 14 March 2022, repeated in NPCP-2021/PE as amended by Capitania Portaria No. 32/CPPE of 26 January 2026): all ships must be tug-assisted inside the organized port area, out to the line between the outer breakwater tip and Cabo de Santo Agostinho. Tugs must be azimuth type, preferably ASD, with at least 50 tonF certified bollard pull, HMPE towlines and firefighting (FiFi); each towage company must have at least one FiFi-1 tug, which gets priority for tanker manoeuvres.
• Tankers entering: 2 tugs up to 200.0 m LOA; 3 tugs between 200.1 m and 230.0 m; 3 tugs, one of at least 65 tonF, between 230.1 m and 250.0 m; 4 tugs, one of at least 65 tonF, above 250.1 m.
• Tankers leaving outer berths: 2 tugs; one tug of at least 65 tonF may do for ships under 170 m LOA with a bow thruster, if master and pilot agree.
• Tankers leaving inner berths: 2 tugs up to 200.0 m; 3 tugs between 200.1 m and 230.0 m; 3 tugs, one of at least 65 tonF, above 230 m.
• Tankers in the inner port between 274 m and 298.99 m LOA with beam between 48 m and 52.99 m, or with LOA x beam of 13,500 m² or more: 4 tugs entering and 3 leaving, all of at least 50 tf, including one of at least 65 tf and one FiFi-1.
• Container ships (Capitania rule): LOA under 305.9 m and beam under 46 m, 2 tugs; LOA between 306 m and 336.99 m or beam between 46 m and 48.99 m, at least 3 azimuth tugs, one of at least 65 tf at centre aft, combined at least 165 tf; LOA between 337 m and 366.99 m, at least 4 azimuth tugs, one of at least 65 tf at centre forward and one of at least 70 tf at centre aft, combined at least 235 tf.
• Container ships up to 305.0 m LOA with beam over 46.0 m or LOA x beam over 13,500 m² also need at least 2 azimuth tugs, the centre-aft one of at least 65 tonF, combined at least 115 tonF (Portaria SUAPE No. 044/2021).
• General cargo: 2 tugs under 210 m; 3 between 210.1 m and 304.9 m (2 with a bow thruster if master and pilot agree).
• Ro-Ro: 2 tugs for any manoeuvre.
• The final towing arrangement is agreed between master and pilot.
• Dredged channel minimum total bollard pull (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026): Suezmax 233 t for drafts between 14.5 m and 16 m and 251 t above 16 m, with at least 65 t aft, and the centre-aft tug made fast before the first pair of buoys; Aframax 4 x 50 t; Capesize 1 x 65 t + 2 x 50 t (276 m, 150,000 DWT) or 2 x 65 t + 1 x 50 t (310 m, 220,000 DWT); container ships 4 ASD tugs, 1 x 70 t + 1 x 65 t + 2 x 50 t; shock line or render-recovery winch on the centre-aft tug.
• During the ramp-up, towage companies must have a tug ready to pass its line before the ship enters the channel; passing the line is optional for smaller ships, but the tug must be available (Portaria SUAPE No. 103/2025, Art. 4).
• Tug companies listed by the port authority: Saveiros Camuyrano, SAAM Smit Towage Brasil and Svitzer Brasil.^{27, 4, 1, 12, 28, 7, 10, 11}

Pilot boarding and landing points (WGS 84): E, dredged access channel (east), 08°22'15.4" S 034°52'18.8" W; NE, natural access channel (northeast), 08°22'33.9" S 034°55'57.3" W. The former point, in the middle of the dredged channel, was deactivated.¹

• As of 21 October 2026 (Portaria SUAPE No. 190/2026 unless stated).
• Port-wide: no berthing in the outer basin with mean wind above 20 knots, unberthing allowed below 25 knots; ships over 210 m LOA may not enter or leave the inner basin with mean wind above 20 knots; pure car carriers may not enter or leave with wind above 20 knots; visibility above 500 yards for any manoeuvre.
• Dredged channel: Suezmax mean wind up to 20 knots and Hs up to 1.7 m; Aframax mean wind up to 20 knots, Hs up to 1.7 m and current 1 knot; Capesize mean wind up to 20 knots, or up to 15 knots during the ramp-up; container ships mean wind up to 15 knots.
• Non-conventional container ships at Cais 1, 2 and 3 (Portarias SUAPE No. 044/2021 and No. 037/2021): mean wind up to 15 knots.^{1, 7, 8, 14}

• Bunkers and lubricants to berthed ships (Portaria SUAPE No. 037/2024, 14 June 2024): only suppliers registered with the port authority, by road tanker or barge; the agent or owner requests consent from the environmental control team at least 48 hours ahead, in business hours; bulk supply to ships of 24 m or more and over 100 GT registered with the Tribunal Marítimo needs a 360 degree containment boom.
• Ship waste (Portaria SUAPE No. 099/2025, 18 September 2025, under ANTAQ Resolution 99/2023): agents must hire collectors registered with the port authority and request authorisation by email at least 36 hours ahead; no collection at anchorage, except in safety cases authorised or requested by the Capitania or ANVISA.^{29, 5}

SUAPE publishes the daily ship movement: expected, anchored, berthed and departed ships.³⁰

Daily ship movement at Suape

2025: 24.25 million tonnes (ANTAQ data, reported by the port authority), 2.4% below 2024; 6th busiest Brazilian public port and national leader in liquid bulk. Liquid bulk and gases 14,704,637 t; containers 7,559,515 t; solid bulk 1,325,689 t.¹⁷