December 20, 2012
Ports of the World: Santos, Brazil
When you approach Southern Brazil you see the Serra do Mar mountain range along the coast. It was a difficult approach for the first settlers arriving about 500 years ago. What they didn't know then was that behind those mountains lies one of the most fertile areas on earth with rivers, water, sunshine and excellent temperatures all year round.
Santos harbour is located on an island off the coast - a stunning location. To reach the port you first go straight ahead, as if you were going directly to the beautiful beach of Santos. But then you turn starboard to go around the island to reach the port of Santos, today located on both sides of the channel.
When I first came there on board the M/S Aconcagua Valley, a freezer ship loading coffee, Santos was the coffee port of the world. It still is, but today it is shipped in containers. 40 years later, arriving by container ship, the old magazines and coffee smell are gone.
An enormous container port has emerged to serve one of the fastest growing urban places in the world, Sao Paulo - a city that seems to have no end. Famous for its football team and Pele, Santos is truly a great place and the port is today famous for its spectacular location, size and efficiency.
