Last Friday, July 26, 2024, an important virtual meeting took place between the Brazilian Certification, Research and Innovation Network (RBCIP) and the State Secretariat for Economic Development and Infrastructure (SEDEC), focused on the challenges faced by waterway operators in navigation on the Madeira River. The meeting was held via Google Meet, at 10:20 am Brasília-DF time and 9:20 am Porto Velho-RO time.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Normann Kallmus, project manager, who presented the main points of discussion. The Vice-Governor of Rondônia and State Secretary for Economic Development , Sérgio Gonçalves, highlighted the strategic importance of the Madeira River for the state’s economy, emphasizing the urgent need to find solutions to the navigability problems faced.
Captain José Maria Moura dos Santos, who is directly involved in the Madeira River, reported the difficulties of navigation at this time of year due to the drought, which exposes several rocks in the riverbed, making it difficult for vessels to pass and negatively impacting local economic development. Commander Joel Gonçalves da Silva corroborated the difficulties mentioned, highlighting that previous attempts to resolve the problem were unsuccessful. Navigation on the Madeira River during the drought continues to be a significant challenge, with direct impacts on the economy and riverside communities.
Mr. Normann and Mr. Márcio Guerrieri presented a potentially viable proposal to mitigate these problems: dredging larger stretches of the Madeira River. They explained that, in the past, spot dredging has ended up moving rocks into the main channel, further blocking the passage of vessels. More extensive and effective dredging could be the solution needed to ensure the river’s navigability.
RBCIP reaffirms its commitment to seeking innovative and effective solutions to infrastructure and economic development challenges, working in partnership with government entities and experts.