“DEPORTEX” trains defense of strategic port for Brazilian grain exports
By Agência Marinha de Notícias – Salvador, BA
The Brazilian Navy began the “DEPORTEX LE/2024” exercise in Salvador yesterday (25), which is taking place at the facilities of the Cotegipe Port Terminal (TPC). The exercise, which will take place until the 28th in a maritime area and on land, aims to train the Force in Port Naval Defense and has 450 military personnel and six ships taking part.
Participating in “DEPORTEX” are around 450 military personnel from the 2nd Naval District Command (Com2ºDN), the Aratu Naval Base, the Captaincy of the Ports of Bahia, the Navy Intelligence Center in Salvador, the Mining and Sweeping Force Command, the Navy Radio Station in Salvador, the Salvador Marine Corps Group, the Eastern Naval Patrol Group and the Eastern Nautical Signaling Service.
The participating ships are the Corvette “Caboclo”; the Patrol Ships “Gravataí” and “Guaratuba”; and the Vessels “Araçatuba”, “Aratu” and “Atalaia”, as well as other vessels from organizations subordinate to the Com2ºDN, such as Patrol and Naval Inspection boats.
The Naval Military Doctrine defines a Port or Restricted Maritime Area Defense Operation as one that aims to prevent or neutralize attacks against a port or anchorage, its accesses, or coastal or river areas of limited dimensions that contain installations of interest.
“It is important for our Force to be trained for the possible defense of restricted maritime areas, that is, the defense of coastal areas containing naval, maritime or industrial installations of strategic value against unpredictable threats. Maritime terminals, nuclear power plants located on the coast and industrial facilities near the sea are some examples of facilities that may also be contained in restricted maritime areas,” says the Commander of the 2nd Naval District, Vice Admiral Antonio Carlos Cambra.
A Port Defense Operation may include the participation of military and civilian organizations, mobilized or not, involving institutions of a very diverse nature. “This exercise aims to prepare our military for the defense of a strategic port, such as the Port of Cotegipe. Thus, we have created a hypothetical situation of an attack against the port facilities in order to simulate defense actions. To do this, we are effectively deploying our assets and military personnel and carrying out actions that would occur in a real situation, including with the support of other institutions in the public security sector,” explains the Chief of Operations of the 2nd Naval District, Frigate Captain Dhartha Dantas.
Cotegipe Port Terminal (TPC)
TPC was strategically chosen because it is located in Todos-os-Santos Bay – the largest bay in the country and the second largest in the world – and because of its great importance in grain exports. The terminal began operations in October 2005 with the unloading of wheat for Grande Moinho Aratu, a company belonging to the M. Dias Branco Group.
TCP is classified as a Private Use Terminal, specializing in the handling (import and export) of solid bulk of vegetable origin and has a total static storage capacity of 516,000 tons. The main products in the import flow are wheat and malt. In exports, soybeans and soybean meal, with a client portfolio made up of the main trading companies in the sector.
In 2006, when the state’s soybean production was around 1.5 million tons, and over the years, the port has made strategic investments and established itself as the main vector for expanding production in western Bahia.
“For us at the Cotegipe Port Terminal, this exercise has been a great opportunity to work together with the Brazilian Navy. Today, the western region produces 7 million tons of soy per year, with 95% of exports passing through Cotegipe. In 2023, our terminal reached its handling record, closing the year with 6,018 million tons,” says TCP’s Operations Director, Jorge Pessoa.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***