By Brazil Stock Guide – São Paulo State signed a 20-year public-private partnership to modernize 14 ferry and waterway routes, in a deal expected to mobilize about 2.5 billion reais in investment.
The contract was awarded to AcquaVias SP Travessias SPE SA, a special-purpose company created for the project. No publicly listed ticker was identified for AcquaVias SP.
The concession covers routes used by about 11 million passengers and 10 million vehicles a year across the São Paulo coast, the metropolitan region of the state capital and the Paraíba Valley. The plan includes terminal upgrades, operational automation and a new fleet aimed at reducing emissions.
The project provides for the purchase of 45 new vessels, most of them fully electric. São Paulo officials estimate the shift could cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 18,000 tons a year.
“The PPP project for waterway crossings represents a milestone for mobility and for the modernization of infrastructure in the State of São Paulo. We are bringing more efficiency, comfort, safety and sustainability to millions of users who rely on the system every day in different regions of the state,” said Rafael Benini, São Paulo’s secretary for partnerships in investment.
The contract also maintains the current fare structure and preserves existing exemptions. Pedestrians using the Santos-Guarujá ferry route will no longer pay fares, expanding a benefit currently available only to bicycle users.
The concessionaire will be required to reinforce operations during holidays and peak tourism periods, increasing the number of trips and reducing waiting lines. The system serves routes with significant tourism and economic activity, especially along the coast.
The coastal routes included in the contract are São Sebastião-Ilhabela, Santos-Guarujá, Santos-Vicente de Carvalho, Bertioga-Guarujá, Cananéia-Ilha Comprida, Cananéia-Continente, Iguape-Juréia and Cananéia-Ariri.
In the São Paulo metropolitan region, the project covers João Basso-Riacho Grande, Bororé-Grajaú and Taquacetuba-Bororé. In the Paraíba Valley, the routes are Porto Varginha, Porto Paraitinga and Porto Natividade da Serra.
The project also received Blue Dot Network certification in Paris during the OECD InfraDays 2026 event, according to the São Paulo government. The seal recognizes infrastructure projects aligned with standards for sustainability, transparency, governance and social responsibility.
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