All change at Brazil’s port ministry and tactics as well?

Silvio Costa Filho has taken over as Minister for Ports and Airports – from Marcio Franca, who was only in the job for nine months – and Mariana Pescatori has replaced the popular and respected Fabrizio Pierdomenico as the head of the Secretariat of Ports. She too has a good reputation but not necessarily in the port sector, and many port users fear it will take time for Costa and Pescatori to get up to speed before making key decisions.

“The scenario is changing again, especially regarding STS10 where there is talk of going back to the original plan [to build a very large Super Terminal],” reports one wizened Santos based consultant. “Many of the changes are once again down to political game playing rather than for the improved future of the port of Santos and the Brazilian logistics transport network. Those of us who want to see much-needed improvements are fed up with it, although Pescatori comes with recommendations by many.”

Pierdomenico, who was once on the Board of Santos and was responsible for a far-reaching Santos Port Master Plan, has gone back to his consultancy business, but some sources suggest he might be in line for a place on the five-man board of the Santos Port Authority (SPA). Sources at SPA suggest that the current CEO of the port authority, Anderson Pomini, will continue for the foreseeable future despite being appointed by Franca. This is because he is a “Technico” (technical type), rather than a “Politico” (an outright political appointment), and therefore unlikely to interfere with any political decisions. However, it has also been suggested that political choices could be made to three of the other five SPA board positions to assist President Lula’s power politics in Brasilia.

Costa is of the same party, the Republicanos, as a previous Port Minister under Bolsonaro, Tarcisio de Freitas, now the governor of Sao Paulo. It is understood that the two will combine to build the much vaunted, long-awaited tunnel to connect the right bank with left bank of the port of Santos.