Brazil's Antaq (National Water Transport Authority) starts the process towards privatization of the Santos port with a concession period of 35 years.  Below is the English translation of the Port of Santos' press release in Brazilian Portuguese.

This is important. Privatization of Brazil's busiest port is very likely to be followed by a tender to get the Santos-Guarujá tunnel built. An immersed tunnel design has been chosen to connect the Santos and Guarujá in the state of São Paulo coast, about 80 km south west of the city of São Paolo. As most projects in Brazil, it has been a slow moving planning for the tunnel now I think over a decade. If the privatization of the port is rounded, it will speed up the tunnel plans.

Santos and Guarujá separated by an approx. 500 m wide entrance channel to Santos port. The aim is to link both cities via an immersed tunnel. It will be the first immersed tunnel of Brazil.

A study of Dutch consultancy company TEC-tunnel commissioned by Dersa (a road company of Government of the State of São Paulo) foresees an a fixed link with "an enclosed section of about 760 meters and approaches, all in all 1,800 m in length". The tunnel will have 2x3  lanes for road traffic and a separate tube for pedestrians and cyclists.

Coming back to Santos Port Authority's notice on 21 January 2022 for the privatization of the port itself, I place my translation below.

Antaq defines consultation and public hearings on privatization of the management of the Port of Santos

Published on 21.Jan.2022 - 12:29

The contribution period will be from January 31st to March 16th

The National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) published this Friday (21) the Notice of Public Hearing 01/2022 to receive contributions, subsidies and suggestions for the privatization of the management of the Port of Santos.

The public consultation will be open from January 31 to March 16. Contributions may be addressed to Antaq until 11:59 pm (Brasília time) on March 16, exclusively through and in the form of the electronic form available at https://www.gov.br/antaq/.

It will be allowed, exclusively by the annex_audiencia012022@antaq.gov.br, upon identification of the taxpayer and within the stipulated period, to attach digital images, such as maps, plans and photos.

According to Antaq, the concession period will be 35 years, renewable for up to 5 years. The planned investments total R$ 16 billion over the contractual term. The initial grant amount will be R$ 1.383 billion.

Lessees, holders of transitional contracts, shipowners, maritime carriers, port operators, Private Use Terminals of the port complex and railway concessionaires operating in the Port of Santos, as well as companies belonging to their economic groups, will have a share limitation of 15 % of individual participation and 40% – when they are part of a consortium – to participate in the event.

The proposed model also foresees a financial contribution of approximately R$ 3 billion for the construction of the tunnel that will link the municipalities of Santos and Guarujá.

The legal drafts and technical documents related to the public hearing will be available here.

Original press release is: https://www.portodesantos.com.br/2022/01/21/11011/