Port of Itaqui, São Luís

EMAP (Empresa Maranhense de Administração Portuária S.A.), the Maranhão state company that is port authority of the organised port of Itaqui by federal delegation (Acordo de Delegação nº 016/2000 of 1 Feb 2001), renewed in January 2026 for a further 25 years.^{1, 2, 3}

portodoitaqui.com.br

• Capitania dos Portos do Maranhão (CPMA), Brazilian Navy, 4th Naval District. Av. Dom Pedro II, nº 2, Centro, São Luís.
• It issues the local rules (NPCP-MA, 1st revision, in force 7 Jul 2026) and the manoeuvre rules for the São Marcos Bay port complex.
• Permanent watch on VHF 16.^{4, 5, 6}

• Pilotage zone ZP-4 (Itaqui, Alumar and Ponta da Madeira).
• Federal law makes pilotage compulsory in pilotage zones for vessels over 500 GT, except cases set by the Maritime Authority in regulation and Brazilian-flag inland craft.
• In ZP-4 the Capitania's NPCP-MA (1st revision, Jul 2026) makes pilotage optional between buoy nº 1 and buoy nº 19 (request in advance) and compulsory between buoy nº 19 and the terminals.
• Ships over 100,000 DWT or drawing 11 m or more must take the pilot from Ponto ALFA, 2.3 nm NE of buoy nº 19.
• Two pilots for STS manoeuvres and for gas carriers over 230 m LOA at a sheltered berth, during their ramp-up phase.
• The coordinating pilot station (Atalaia) is run by APEM (Associação dos Práticos do Maranhão); the Capitania lists nine pilotage entities in São Luís.
• The agent or terminal must notify the Atalaia at least 3 hours before the manoeuvre and cancel at least 2 hours before.^{7, 4, 8}

• Berths, as of 21 October 2026: maximum draft on arrival and departure under the Norma de Atracação 2026 (EMAP, approved by Portaria nº 01471/2026-PRE/EMAP, in force 1 Sep 2026): berth 99: 14.5 m; 100: 14.5 m; 101: 11.5 m; 102: 11.5 m; 103: 14.5 m; 104: 12.5 m; 105: 17.5 m; 106 and 106B: 18.5 m; 108 and 108B: 14.5 m.
• The Capitania's NPCP-MA (1st revision, Portaria nº 102/CPMA of 7 Jul 2026) lists the same maximum drafts for berths 99 to 108. Neither document labels them CMR or CMA, and neither states a tide condition or a datum.
• Channel (EMAP): maximum draft 22.3 m in the external access channel and 14.5 m in the internal channel in front of Itaqui. EMAP does not say which berths the internal channel serves, so the pilots confirm the route and the draft for each call.
• Berthing and unberthing run in tide windows set by the CPMA manoeuvre rules (Feb 2023 edition, as published by EMAP).
• Ships outside these parameters need EMAP analysis, Navy authorisation and pilot validation. No numeric under-keel clearance rule is published.^{3, 9, 4, 1, 10}

• Norma de Atracação 2026 (EMAP), maximum LOA / beam / DWT by berth: 99: 229 m / 40 m / 83,400; 100: 240 m / 40 m / 100,000; 101: 200 m / 40 m / 80,000; 102: 200 m / 40 m / 80,000; 103: 229 m / 40 m / 100,000; 104: 184 m / 40 m / 80,000; 105: 229 m / 45 m / 150,000; 106: 280 m / 50 m / 210,000, minimum LOA 160 m; 106B: 280 m / 50 m / 160,000; 108: 245 m / 40 m / 91,600; 108B: 200 m / 40 m / 50,000.
• Capitania documents are stricter in places. The NPCP-MA (Jul 2026) gives berth 99 a maximum beam of 32.26 m, berth 104 a maximum LOA of 183 m, and lists 155,000 DWT for berth 106.
• The CPMA manoeuvre rules (Feb 2023 edition, as published by EMAP) allow berth 99 only up to 76,500 DWT, give berth 106 berthing windows only up to 155,000 DWT port side or 50,000 DWT starboard side, and berth 108 port side only, up to 91,600 DWT.
• The combined LOA of ships at berths 104 and 105 may not exceed 413 m (422 m under set conditions).
• Confirm with EMAP and the pilots before fixing a ship above the Capitania figures. Ships outside these limits, or over 18 years old, need prior EMAP analysis.^{3, 4, 6}

Berth air draft limits, Norma de Atracação 2026 (EMAP): berth 100: 28 m; 101: 25 m; 103: 28 m; 105: 18 m. Berths 99, 102, 104, 106, 106B, 108 and 108B: unlimited. The norma does not say which water level the limit refers to.^{3, 4}

• Semidiurnal (two high and two low waters per lunar day). Mean range 4.6 m, reaching 7.2 m at spring tides; ranges of about 5 m occur daily (EMAP).
• Example from the 2026 prediction posted by EMAP: 26 Oct 2026 (springs) high water 6.09 m, low water 0.33 m; 19 Oct 2026 (neaps) high water 4.39 m, low water 2.19 m.
• DHN reference station 30110 Porto de Itaqui, 02°34.6'S 044°22.2'W, chart DHN 413.
• High and low water times for manoeuvres follow Vale's tide table, homologated by the Navy Hydrographic Centre (CPMA rule).
• Tidal streams reach 5 kn at springs, strongest on the ebb (NPCP-MA).^{1, 11, 12, 6, 4}

• Nine operational berths (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 108) with depths between 12 m and 19 m; up to 10 ships at once, as liquid bulk can be worked alongside a ship at berth 106 (EMAP).
• Standard ship types (Norma 2026): 99 dry bulk and general cargo, with priority for pulp and paper under its lease; 100 and 101 mechanised dry bulk, dry bulk, general cargo; 102 dry bulk, liquid bulk, LPG, containers, general cargo, with priority for project cargo; 103 dry bulk, mechanised dry bulk, general cargo, liquid bulk, with a rail-equipment call every 90 days; 104 liquid bulk, dry bulk, general cargo, LPG; 105 dry bulk, mechanised dry bulk, liquid bulk; 106, 106B, 108 and 108B liquid bulk, with STS convoys first at 106 and 108.
• Main cargoes: soybeans, petroleum products, fertilisers, corn, pulp, copper and pig iron.
• Berth 98 (380 m long, up to 18 m deep) is under construction, opening expected December 2026.
• Vale's Ponta da Madeira and the Alumar terminal are private terminals in the same bay, outside this guide.^{10, 3, 1, 13, 14}

• Customs: Receita Federal, Inspetoria IRF Porto de São Luís, Av. dos Portugueses s/n, Porto do Itaqui; service providers boarding ships alongside or at anchor need a Receita Federal release under Portaria IRF/SLS nº 02/2026.
• Health and free pratique: ANVISA, CVPAF-MA (Coordenação de Vigilância em Portos, Aeroportos e Fronteiras no Maranhão), which keeps a Porto do Itaqui line.
• Quarantine anchorage (NPCP-MA): Area 3 (drafts of 11 m or more) and Area 6 (under 11 m, not recommended because of strong currents).
• Immigration and crew changes: Polícia Federal, Superintendência Regional no Maranhão (maritime police NEPOM and migration DELEMIG in São Luís); crew must be cleared by immigration before going ashore.
• Agriculture: VIGIAGRO (MAPA), listed by EMAP among the port's authorities.^{15, 16, 17, 4, 18, 1, 19}

• São Luís, Marechal Cunha Machado (IATA SLZ, ICAO SBSL).
• Designated an international public aerodrome, but the operator Motiva lists only domestic destinations (12, including São Paulo, Campinas, Brasília, Recife, Fortaleza and Belém), so international crews connect through a domestic hub.
• About 22.9 km by road, roughly 30 minutes without traffic (approximate route on OpenStreetMap data).^{20, 21, 22, 23}

• Access channel through São Marcos Bay (NPCP-MA, Jul 2026): 55 nm long on a northeast-southwest axis; 1,000 m wide over most of its length and about 500 m between certain buoy pairs; natural depth of more than 24.5 m, with the 500 m stretches monitored and kept dredged to 24.5 m.
• EMAP gives depth 23 m, limiting width 500 m, length 101 km.
• Internal channel in front of Itaqui (EMAP): minimum depth 15 m, minimum width 280 m.
• Turning basin depth between 15 m and 23 m; the berth lines are the shallowest points.
• Berth depths (Norma 2026): 12 m at 101 and 102; 13 m at 104; 15 m at 99, 100, 103, 108 and 108B; 18 m at 105; 19 m at 106 and 106B. No source states the datum.^{4, 10, 1, 3}

• Eight anchorage areas in São Marcos Bay, numbered north to south and charted on the DHN 400 series.
• Area 1: part-cargo ships bound for Ponta da Madeira drawing over 11 m, ships in litigation or under major repair, CPMA authorisation.
• Areas 2 and 3: tide waiting for drafts of 11 m or more (Area 3 also berth waiting and quarantine).
• Areas 4 and 5: drafts under 11 m.
• Area 6: quarantine for drafts under 11 m, not recommended because of strong currents.
• Area 7: drafts up to 11 m with manoeuvring restrictions or short operational needs, CPMA authorisation; avoid its northeast quadrant.
• Area 8: drafts under 11 m handling fuel or explosives, CPMA authorisation.
• Ships with only one anchor or with engine problems should in principle use Areas 3, 2 or 7.
• Anchoring is prohibited in the manoeuvring area and along the whole access channel.
• EMAP advises arriving about 4 hours before high water and keeping a sea watch at anchor, as flood and ebb streams can reach 6 kn.^{4, 1}

• As of 21 October 2026, there is no time restriction on night manoeuvres in ZP-4, except STS berthing (NPCP-MA, Jul 2026).
• Daylight only: bunkering, alongside or at anchor (NPCP-MA); berthing of ships over 90,000 DWT at berths 103, 104 and 105; STS berthing alongside a ship at anchorage Area 7, pilot on board between 0500 and 1700 (CPMA manoeuvre rules, Feb 2023 edition as published by EMAP).
• Berth 103: ships over 35,000 DWT berth starboard side only.
• When the tidal range exceeds 5.0 m, no berthing at Itaqui in the 3 hours before high water.
• At most 7 night and 8 day manoeuvres may be scheduled for the same hour in the bay.
• A change of side alongside at Itaqui, starboard side to port side, only in the high water window; port side to starboard side only in the low water window.
• Both anchors must be ready for use.
• Recommended speed in the compulsory pilotage zone: up to 10 kn through the water.
• Ships over 18 years old need prior EMAP analysis.
• Berth 108 manoeuvres are also subject to Portaria nº 125/CPMA of 9 Dec 2024.
• Rocket launches at the Alcântara Launch Centre can close sea areas (NPCP-MA item 5.8).^{4, 6, 3, 1}

• At Itaqui local tugs must be used for berthing and unberthing; manoeuvres normally use 2 tugs (EMAP).
• The master alone decides the number and arrangement of tugs, considering the ship's DWT and the tugs' bollard pull and hearing the pilot, within each port's or terminal's minimums (NPCP-MA).
• Tugs are hired by the owner through the agent, not by the port.
• The Capitania lists four towage companies in São Luís: SAAM Towage, Wilson Sons, Camorim and Svitzer.
• EMAP's Handbook (undated; its PDF was created in March 2025) lists Camorim (4 tugs), SAAM (6) and Wilson Sons (11).^{4, 1}

• Boarding points (NPCP-MA item 4.3.3): drafts under 11 m, Ponto BRAVO near buoy nº 19, 02°28'54"S 044°22'12"W; over 100,000 DWT or drawing 11 m or more, Ponto ALFA, 02°26'00"S 044°20'36"W.
• Pilots disembark off Ilha do Medo, 02°31'31"S 044°23'06"W (EMAP).
• The agent orders the pilot from the coordinating station (Atalaia) at least 3 hours before the manoeuvre and cancels at least 2 hours before; pilots also answer on VHF 16 or 14.
• Itaqui manoeuvre working channel: VHF 11.^{4, 1, 6}

• The NPCP-MA (1st revision, Jul 2026, item 4.3.7) lists the weather limits that ZP-4 pilots must observe for a declaration that the bar is impracticable, in green, amber and red bands.
• Berthing and pilot boarding: green band wind under 15 kn, significant wave height under 1.5 m and visibility over 3 nm; red band wind over 30 kn, wave height over 2 m, visibility under 1 nm.
• Unberthing: green band wind under 20 kn, red band over 40 kn, with the same wave and visibility bands.
• Navigation and anchoring: green band wind under 20 kn and waves under 2 m; red band wind over 40 kn and waves over 3 m.
• Only the Capitão dos Portos may declare the bar impracticable, wholly or in part; the pilots must ask for it in a formal request when sea, wind or visibility conditions are unfavourable.
• Current speeds can reach considerable values and occasionally restrict manoeuvres (NPCP-MA item 5.10).
• EMAP measures wind at berth 106 and currents at berths 100 and 108 in real time.
• Rain (INMET 1991-2020 normals in EMAP's Handbook): wettest months March (452.8 mm) and April (431.4 mm); driest September (2.9 mm), October (2.8 mm) and November (9.7 mm).^{4, 1}

• Bunkers: Transpetro and Granel Química supply ships at berth; truck delivery by EMAP-accredited companies.
• Bunkering, alongside or by ship-to-ship or ship-to-barge at anchor, is daytime only, and garbage, lubricants, spares and stores are handled in daytime with the ship alongside (NPCP-MA).
• STS or bunker transfer at anchor needs prior DPC authorisation through the CPMA, in anchorage Area 7, and is not allowed for ships over 9.0 m draft or loaded tankers.
• Fresh water by supply vessel alongside or by truck.
• MARPOL reception: oily waste, garbage and dirty ballast are collected by EMAP-accredited companies hired through the agent; oily-waste trucks have limited access at berth 108.
• Ballast may not be discharged over the quay.^{4, 1, 6}

EMAP's 'Porto Agora' pages list expected, berthed and anchored ships, and its homepage links a daily berthing map (Mapa de Atracação).^{24, 25}

EMAP Porto Agora: expected ships

• 36,880,841 t in 2025 (EMAP): solid bulk 25,916,635 t, liquid bulk 9,162,640 t, general cargo 1,801,566 t.
• Main cargoes in 2025: soybeans 16,035,842 t; petroleum products 5,169,594 t imported plus 3,626,181 t in bonded storage (entreposto); fertilisers 4,601,220 t; corn 2,817,853 t; pulp 1,696,796 t; copper 986,227 t; pig iron 762,209 t.¹⁴