Technical visits to pilotage company headquarters

National Pilotage Council and Maritime Pilots’ Institute of Brazil present their actions to pilots

Arionor Souza, executive secretary of Brazilian Pilotage, and Jacqueline Wendpap, CEO of the Maritime Pilots’ Institute of Brazil, are conducting technical visits to the pilotage headquarters and the ports where they operate.

Two goals are involved: to level up information about the status of the National Pilotage Council and the importance of its presence in Brasilia, and to highlight the facilities of the Institute’s maneuver simulation center in the federal capital.

Rio Grande pilotage (ZP-19) was visited in 2022 by the executive secretary. In early 2023, this was followed by Pará (ZP-03) and Maranhão (ZP-04) pilotage. After having visited those two, Jacqueline Wendpap now accompanies Arionor Souza to meetings in order to situate the pilots and company managers on the Institute’s performance and its future, in addition to introducing it to the terminal representatives.

Rumos Práticos attended the following visit to São Francisco pilotage and the ports in northern Santa Catarina (ZP-18, São Francisco do Sul), between March 22 and 24.

At the pilot station, Arionor Souza gave a talk about the work of the National Pilotage Council, especially in Brasília, where the decisions are made involving the maritime and port sector. Jacqueline Wendpap, in turn, presented a balance sheet of the first year of the Institute and its strategic planning. They were welcomed by the CEO, Roberto Castanho, and the pilot members of the company.

“Exchanging information has been very enriching, both for the National Pilotage Council and the pilotage companies. This data standardization is essential for all of us to be on common ground and talk the same language”, stressed Arionor Souza.

In relation to the Maritime Pilots’ Institute of Brazil, Jacqueline Wendpap emphasized that its proposal goes beyond a pilot training center and project simulations:

“We would also like to be a benchmark in groundbreaking development and new technologies with focus on the profession’s enhancement. Further on, another idea is to implement big data since, despite having a wide range of information in the sector, the data are scattered, without interrelation and not always reliable.”

At the terminals, Arionor Souza and Jacqueline Wendpap listed the resources of the Institute’s maneuver simulation center, which allow for the assessment of waterway and port projects nationwide, in addition to being used for pilot training.

They met with Sergni Pessoa, Director of Port Operations of Port Itapoá and the unit’s Environment Manager, Christiano Berthier; Pablo Almeida, Operations and Logistics Director of the Port of São Francisco do Sul; Paulo Capriolli, CEO of Santa Catarina Port Terminal (Tesc), and Guilherme Guerra, engineering manager.

“We have a center able to simulate any port requirement, and we are ready to welcome you in Brasilia”, invited Jacqueline Wendpap.

Roberto Castanho, CEO of São Francisco Pilotage, attended the meetings:

“I thought the visit was quite opportune and important in order to update the ZP-18 pilots on several aspects underway in Brazilian pilotage developed by the National Pilotage Council. Also to publicize the Maritime Pilots’ Institute of Brazil to the São Francisco do Sul port authorities and terminals in the Bay of Babitonga, whose various ongoing projects could use the Institute for their nautical studies. At the same time, it was an opportunity for them to learn some more about the resources, facilities and operating specifics of our pilotage zone.”

São Francisco pilotage guides the ships that call at the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá. Its investments and nautical studies, in addition to its expertise, have contributed to combine environmental preservation in the Bay of Babitonga and the safe operation of large vessels.

Following the institutional program, Arionor Souza and Jacqueline Wendpap made the technical visit to Pilotage Zone 02 (ItacoatiaraAM/Tabatinga-AM) on April 5th. On April 3rd and 4th they had attended the Norte Export 2023 – National Forum of Logistics, Infrastructure and Transportation (Brasil Export) in Manaus.