The Captaincy of the Ports of São Paulo confirmed late on 13 September that Brazil’s largest seaport, Santos, resumed normal operations at 22:30 local time after a 36-hour suspension caused by strong winds and three-metre swells. An advisory distributed yesterday (14 September) states that pilotage has returned to ‘Praticagem Indireta’, meaning vessels may dock without special tug-escort protocols. Although the weather disruption was brief, it stranded several container ships carrying personal effects for expatriates relocating to Brazil under temporary-work visas. According to relocation company MoveX, at least 120 household-goods consignments destined for São Paulo and Campinas were delayed, forcing assignees to rent furnished accommodation at corporate expense. The reopening eases pressure on supply chains already stretched by Amazon-basin droughts that have curtailed inland barge traffic. Freight forwarders report that customs-clearance appointments have been re-allocated through the Mercante system, and brokers expect the backlog of import declarations (DI) to clear by Friday. Employers with time-sensitive project cargo are advised to file priority discharge requests under Normative Instruction RFB 2.057/2022, citing ‘force majeure’. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Ports and Airports will convene a task force next week to review contingency plans, including the possible deployment of drone-based wave-monitoring sensors. Multinationals are urged to incorporate maritime-weather clauses in mobility policies covering household-goods shipments.
