The Santos Port Authority (APS) announced that the ballast water regulation has been reinstated following a ruling by the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region in Brasilia.
Back in 21 August 2024, the Santos Port Authority in Brazil decided that all ships would be required to produce a statement of compliance with ballast water regulations issued by an accredited private company, in addition to the existing requirements under the BWM Convention.
However, on 5 September 2024, the Federal Waterway Transport Regulatory Agency (ANTAQ) suspended the enforceability of the new regulations until further notice. In response, on 9 September, the Santos Port Authority issued a press release reluctantly accepting the ANTAQ ruling but expressed its intention to seek reconsideration of the suspension.
Then, on 18 December 2024, ANTAQ’s board unanimously decided to annul the Santos Port Authority’s Resolution NAP.SUMAS.OPR.023.2024, which had been temporarily suspended in September. APS still had the option to file an administrative appeal or take the matter to court.
In a new development, on 13 February 2025, the ballast water regulation at the Port of Santos was reinstated following a ruling by the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region in Brasilia, with the Santos Port Authority announcing that the regulation would take effect from that date.
