Portonave performs the seventh unloading operation of the Brazilian Air Force F-39 Gripen fighter jet

Operational excellence, safety, and location make the Port Terminal a reference for special operations, such as the reception of FAB aircraft since 2020

Coming directly from Norrköping, Sweden, the 10th F-39 Gripen fighter of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), registration FAB 4110, took 21 days to arrive in Navegantes, a city in Santa Catarina, where Portonave is located, a private port terminal that carried out the aircraft unloading operation. The vessel Fagelgracht, owned by the shipowner Spliethoff, berthed this Thursday (12). The Company's operational excellence and constant investments in safety are essential for receiving the fighter jet. Furthermore, the proximity to Navegantes International Airport is a strategic factor, as is Avenida Portuária, which facilitates land transport of the aircraft to the airport.

The operation was carried out efficiently by the Portonave team, lasting approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Another crucial aspect is port safety. The Company has the ISPS Code certification, a set of standards that attest to the safety of the customs area, issued by the National Commission for Public Security in Ports, Terminals and Waterways (Conportos), and has strict infrastructure and procedures for operations: it has approximately 400 surveillance cameras – with night vision, motion detection and zoom capabilities of up to 60 times – in addition to drones and vehicles for rapid response. For container inspection, it has two scanners, capable of inspecting around 1,000 containers per day. In April, two new, state-of-the-art scanners were procured, with operations expected to begin by July.

Several procedures were implemented to ensure the operation's success, including receiving and segregating the fighter jet in a designated location on the quay, implementing reinforced access protocols, and integrating logistical planning with the FAB, local traffic, and public law enforcement agencies. This was the seventh F-39 Gripen fighter unloading operation, which highlights Portonave's expertise in this type of special cargo. The first aircraft was unloaded at the Port Terminal in 2020, and the others from 2022 to 2024.

About the fighter jet
The aircraft represents a significant qualitative and technological advancement in increasing the FAB's operational capacity, as it is recognized for its efficiency, low operating costs, high availability, and advanced technology. Saab, a leading Swedish company in the defense and security segment, manufactures the F-39 Gripen.

Land transport
After unloading, the fighter jet was transported to Navegantes International Airport by land. The travel of just over two kilometers took place during the early hours of June 12th. For safety reasons, the aircraft is transported from Sweden to Brazil without fuel. Therefore, the transfer to the airport is carried out by land, where the fighter jet is refueled. At the airport, final installations of equipment on the aircraft and pre-flight tests are carried out.

Brazilian Gripen Program
The fighter is part of the Brazilian Gripen Program, a partnership between Brazil and Sweden that began in 2015, following the signing of the contract with FAB, to develop and produce state-of-the-art fighter jets for FAB. The contract also provides logistics support, related systems, and equipment, training, armaments, and an industrial cooperation agreement that has become Saab's largest technology transfer program ever.

Breakbulk loads
The aircraft falls into the breakbulk category, a special type of transport for large goods. With a team trained to handle special cargo at the Port Terminal, in addition to fighter jets, helicopters, trains, large generators, machines, boats, and even the largest roller coaster in Latin America and the Ferris wheel in Balneário Camboriú have already been handled, both in import and export.

About Portonave
The company is located in Navegantes, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, and began its activities in 2007 as the first private port terminal in Brazil. It is part of the Swiss group Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) – which manages around 70 terminals on five continents. There are 1,300 direct professionals and 5,500 indirect professionals. According to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ), it was the most efficient in vessel productivity in 2024. In addition to standing out for operational excellence, the Company is committed to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices and develops several actions and initiatives focused on environmental and social aspects.