In a historic milestone for women inclusion in port operations, Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP) has hired nine of the first thirteen female dockworkers at the Port of Santos

Santos, July 21, 2025 - Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), one of the largest container terminals in Latin America, has achieved a historic milestone in promoting women inclusion in port operations by hiring nine female onboard operators. As of July, the company became the first container terminal in Brazil to employ the highest number of women in this role, ensuring at least one female operator is present on every shift.

The hiring of women for onboard operator positions - a previously unprecedented move -became possible following the certification of 13 women as dockworkers by the Santos Port Labor Management Body (OGMO) in June of this year. Of these pioneering 13 dockworkers at the Port of Santos, nine were selected and hired by BTP after successfully passing the company’s recruitment process.

Joel Contente, BTP’s Chief Administrative Officer, explains that the company’s recent expansion of quay equipment has created new job opportunities for onboard operators. “BTP is in a new growth trajectory, supported by a R$2 billion investment package signed with the Federal Government that will prepare our container terminal for the next two decades of operations at the Port of Santos. In April of this year, we began operating two new Ship-To-Shore cranes, increasing our operational quay equipment from eight to ten units—this is only the first phase. We expect to receive two additional Ship-To-Shore cranes in the coming years,” he detailed.

Claudio Oliveira, who leads BTP as CEO since February, highlighted the company’s ongoing evolution. “The port sector - particularly in Brazil - demands increasing innovation and a proactive approach to expanding its global relevance. That’s why we’re committed to advancing diversity within BTP’s leadership, which today includes 56% of women in management roles. Now, we proudly celebrate another step forward in bringing new talent into our operational workforce. Seeing this level of diversity across our team reminds me of the beginning of my own career, when women were typically limited to roles such as receptionist, secretary, or telex operator. It is deeply rewarding to be part of this transformation.”

Onboard Operator Role – The role of an onboard operator is essential to container handling operations at the Port of Santos. These professionals are responsible, among other tasks, for lashing and unlashing containers aboard vessels while they are docked at the terminal. Their work ensures that containers are locked or unlocked and in safely conditions to be handled by Ship-To-Shore cranes - from sea to land and vice versa. With the recent addition of nine female onboard operators, BTP now has a total of 238 permanent professionals in this function.

One of BTP’s newly hired onboard operators, 24-year-old Patrícia Araújo, expressed her sense of fulfillment in joining the company and taking on the role. “I always dreamed of working in the port sector, and I’m really happy for this opportunity. It’s not an easy job, and many people doubt us because we’re women—but it’s absolutely possible,” she said.

For Ingrid da Costa Gomes, 35, who also holds a degree from the Merchant Navy Academy since 2010, the speed of hiring came as a surprise. “The entire process took almost nine months between the public exam, training course, and final hiring. I had no idea there was such a high demand for professionals at the port,” she noted.

Women’s Inclusion – BTP its commitment to promote diversity in the port sector through inclusion of women. This is being achieved by social initiatives focused on training and empowerment such as the BTP Com Elas program and by offering affirmative job opportunities. According to Claudio Scalise, Human Resources Manager at the container terminal, BTP is an employer brand dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. “We believe that diversity strengthens our operations and fosters a more innovative and representative workplace,” he stated.

Currently, BTP employs over 200 women in its direct workforce. Of this total, approximately 50% hold operational roles—from gate processes to the handling of large equipment used in container operations.

---

This initiative is in synergy with the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10), Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) and Partnerships and Means of Implementation (SDG 17).