The Government of the State of São Paulo has submitted to the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (Alesp) a Bill for review and approval that authorizes the concession of the Waterway Crossing System, which includes ferries and vessels for transporting vehicles and passengers across five regions of the state. The initiative aims to modernize the service, ensuring more efficiency, comfort, and safety for users.
The concession will enable R$ 1 billion in investments over the duration of the contract, including the acquisition of 48 new vessels, with electric models to reduce carbon emissions and enhance climate resilience. Modernization efforts will also include infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the ferry terminals.
Qualified under the São Paulo State Partnership Program (PPI-SP), the concession will cover the operation, maintenance, and management of 14 waterway lines across different regions. These include eight routes on the São Paulo coastline managed by the State Department of Waterways, three operated by the Metropolitan Water and Energy Company, and three on the Paraibuna Reservoir.
The project includes strategic crossings such as Santos–Guarujá and São Sebastião–Ilhabela, as well as essential routes for isolated communities like Cananéia–Ariri and Porto Natividade da Serra. Services are also planned for the São Paulo Metropolitan Region and the Paraibuna Reservoir.
The sponsored concession model (PPP) will maintain the current fare policy, with no fare increases and no changes to existing exemptions. The financial balance of the contract will be guaranteed by the government, which will cover 80% of the future concessionaire’s remuneration, in accordance with federal legislation.
Currently, the system serves approximately 11 million passengers and 10 million vehicles per year. The public notice is expected to be published in the first half of 2025, with the auction and contract signing scheduled for the second half. The contract will last 20 years and will cover all waterway crossings in the state.