Assessment of cabotage as a logistical modal option: case study of a metallurgical company in northeast Brazil

Abstract

Coastal navigation is one of the main modes of water transport, carrying goods from port to port.In Brazil, it is an emerging transport category, and its use has increased in the national transport matrix. The present article evaluates the performance of the cabotage modal in a company of the metallurgical sector in Ceará state. The method adopted for this research was the case study, with document analysis, data from the investigated company system and simulation of costs with the use of cabotage navigation as an alternative transportation option. The main variables analyzed comprised volume of cargo transported per trip, transport cost and lead time. Advantages and disadvantages have been shown in its use for the transport of cargoes. The main bottlenecks were identified and mapped in order to propose improvements. The results obtained with the study showed a gain in volume per weight transported and a reduction in freight costs in the organization with the adoption of cabotage. Delivery time, however, is highlighted as a major factor of inefficiency for its application in the company, as this indicator is influenced by infrastructure problems and bureaucratic and fiscal procedures that make cabotage operations unattractive for the market.

Keywords

• Transport matrix
• Coasting navigation
• Transport modal
• Water transport logistics