Investments in technology and risk management over more than a decade sustain performance above industry safety benchmarks
Decades of continuous investment in technology, risk management, and operational control have positioned Samarco's Ponta Ubu Maritime Terminal above national benchmarks for port operations. The latest result of this commitment is a new historic milestone, surpassing the previous record set in 2012, with 6,490 accident-free vessel maneuvers. This achievement reinforces the terminal, located in Anchieta on the southern coast of Espírito Santo, as a benchmark for safety in the industry.
The path to this record began with systematic inspections of vessels berthing at Ponta Ubu, which have been progressively enhanced over the years. In 2005, the expansion of vetting practices — a process that verifies whether a vessel meets operational, environmental, and safety requirements — broadened the scope of preventive controls, allowing vessels to be assessed even before arriving at the terminal, based on their operational history and the performance of the companies involved.
Technology and intelligence driving safety
Over the past five years, Samarco has made significant investments to ensure that the Port of Ubu kept pace with the gradual resumption of operations, with a focus on safety, efficiency, and reliability. Among the key advancements is the implementation of the Berth Alert system, which uses metocean data and predictive models to estimate mooring conditions and line tensions up to 60 hours in advance, enhancing safety during berthing and unberthing operations. This integrated safety approach also includes Dynamic Draft, which brings together all the variables that affect operational safety. Ponta Ubu pioneered a shift in a long-standing operational paradigm in Brazil through a simulation conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) in 2017.
"Each maneuver requires rigorous planning and the analysis of variables such as wind, tides, waves, ocean currents, and cargo distribution, as well as close coordination among different teams to ensure safety at every stage," says Marco Antônio Muniz Gamaro, Specialist Engineer at the Port of Ubu Management.
The operational context makes this achievement even more significant. Over the years, the Port of Ubu has expanded its operational profile to handle different types of dry bulk cargo. The size of the vessels handled has also increased significantly. Today, the port can accommodate vessels of approximately 200,000 metric tons, exceeding 50 meters in height, while still positioning them with an accuracy of just a few meters during berthing.
According to Fernando Artilha, Manager of the Port of Ubu, these investments reinforce safety as a non-negotiable value for Samarco. According to him, the improvements range from modernizing yard and port processes to ensuring full regulatory compliance and integration with authorities such as the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, Antaq, the Brazilian Navy, Anvisa, and the Secretariat for the Union's Property (SPU). "These advancements reinforce the safety and reliability of our operations," Artilha emphasizes.