ANTAQ (National Agency for Water Transport) identified this Wednesday (22) the company Mada Araújo Asset Management as the winner of the preliminary auction for the lease of the port of Itajaí. However, the start of operations has not yet been determined and depends on other processes.

A tenant has been identified in the port of Itajai, but the date for the resumption of operation of the complex is still unknown. – Photo: Luciano Sens/Porto de Itajaí/Disclosure/ND

MMS competitors Empreendimentos, Teconnave and Livramento Holding can still appeal to the TCU (Federal Court of Audit) and, unlike the ANTAQ appeal stage, there is no specific deadline. In the meantime, the contract has yet to be concluded and signed.

According to the port’s press service, the agreement can only be signed at the end of December. Before this, you must go through environmental, state and federal customs procedures. In short, it is unknown when container operations at the complex, which are currently stopped, will resume.

The signing of the temporary lease agreement for the port complex should not take place until December – Photo: Marcos Porto/SECOM Itajaí/Divulgação/ND

Mada Araujo’s bid for the port was the second highest at the auction.

Mada Araujo’s proposal is for the transport of 44,600 TEU per month and is the second largest in the competition, behind only MMS Empreendimentos, which dropped out. It was accepted after the company filed an appeal against its disqualification – at that time the deal was not considered feasible.

Teconnave, a member of the TiL (Terminal Investment Limited) group, was the first to have its bid of 35,000 TEU per month approved and was listed as the possible winner of the lease until cancellation this Wednesday.

Container operations have been suspended and are dependent on pre-leasing for return. – Photo: Porto de Itajaí/Reproduction/ND

The appeals of MMS Empreendimentos and Livramento Holdings were rejected by ANTAQ and their proposed values ​​should no longer be considered by the organization.

The transition lease agreement provides that the winning company will operate the complex for 24 months (two years). The final lease will be for 35 years and notice must be published by the federal government during the term of the transition contract.