Brazil tightens Amazon low-water surcharge oversight

Brazil’s waterways regulator has stepped up preparations for another potential low-water season in the Amazon, requiring container carriers to provide at least 30 days’ notice before introducing drought-related surcharges and pushing ports, terminals and shipping companies to prepare contingency plans.

ANTAQ said there is currently no extreme drought comparable with 2023 and 2024, but it has been monitoring dredging operations on the Madeira, Amazonas and Tapajós rivers since May as it looks to anticipate possible navigation restrictions.

Container lines serving Amazon origins or destinations must notify the regulator before applying a Low Water Surcharge or equivalent hydrological charge, setting out the trigger, services covered, calculation basis and period of application. The filing does not amount to regulatory approval of the charge.

Any carrier that activates a surcharge will then have to submit fortnightly reports detailing hydrological conditions, operating restrictions, exceptional costs and amounts collected.

ANTAQ has also called on shipping companies, organised ports, terminals and other regulated operators across the region to maintain contingency plans. Possible measures include deploying shallower-draft vessels, reorganising schedules, redistributing or transshipping cargo and using temporary infrastructure. Emergency applications for floating facilities, transshipment operations and shallow-draft vessel charters could receive priority treatment if navigation conditions deteriorate.