NEW YORK: Efforts to merge Brazil’s Special Ports Ministry (SEP) with the Ministry of Transport seem to have been put on hold, at least temporarily, with the appointment of Helder Barbalho as the ministry’s new leader.
Brazilian maritime interests are relieved the SEP is staying separate from the transport ministry because they will have resources and personnel dedicated exclusively to their needs, but they are apprehensive about Barbalho’s lack of experience in the maritime industry.
Barbalho, 36, has been moved from the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to SEP and replaces Edinho Araujo whose last act as minister was to sign off on the 25-year extension to Santos Brasil’s Tecon Santos container terminal concession.
