The group toured the terminal’s facilities to gain a practical understanding of port operations and processes.

How does a port terminal operate in practice? To answer this question, approximately 45 participants in the Inspector for a Day program, organized by Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), visited Porto Sudeste last Wednesday, October 21. The initiative is part of the Agency’s training program for new employees and aims to bring them closer to the realities of Brazil’s port sector.

During the visit, the group toured the terminal’s facilities and learned about key stages of the operation, including vessel berthing, cargo handling and other port processes. The visit complements the theoretical training provided by Antaq and allows participants to observe firsthand how a facility regulated by the Agency operates.

“The main purpose of this initiative is to give professionals who do not work directly in inspection the opportunity to see how the activity operates, understand the cooperation among the different stakeholders and recognize the complexity of a port terminal’s daily operations. It is an opportunity to bring administrative and regulatory teams closer to the operational reality,” explained Leonardo Pereira, a regulatory specialist at Antaq’s Rio de Janeiro Regional Office (GRERJ).

For Porto Sudeste, the visit provided an opportunity to introduce future inspectors and regulators to the dynamics of port operations and promote the exchange of experiences with professionals who will remain in direct contact with the sector throughout their careers.

“Although our terminal has its own specific characteristics, many of the processes observed here, particularly those involving vessel berthing and maneuvering, are part of the routine at port terminals across the country. It is always valuable to turn information that often exists only in documents into a practical experience. We also learn from these conversations. We will certainly meet many of these professionals again throughout our regulatory and inspection activities,” said Ulisses Oliveira, Porto Sudeste’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.

Porto Sudeste’s selection to host the group also reflects the terminal’s recognition for its sustainability performance. The terminal ranks among the highest-rated facilities in Antaq’s Environmental Performance Index (IDA), reinforcing its position as a benchmark for sustainability in the port sector.