The company will work alongside the state’s Secretariat for the Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics (SEMIL) to maintain service during the transition. The network serves several parts of the state, including Baixada Santista, the North Coast, the South Coast, the São Paulo metropolitan area and the Paraíba Valley. It carries around 11 million passengers and 10 million vehicles annually.

The concession provides for BRL 2.5 billion in investment, including 45 new vessels, more than 40 of them electric, and the construction or expansion of 20 terminals. The plan also includes operations control centres, maintenance workshops and automated fare collection. Fleet renewal will be phased in, with the first new vessels expected from the third year of the concession. Additional capacity and more frequent sailings are intended to reduce intervals between departures and improve service at peak times.

The programme follows around BRL 240 million in state investment since 2023, including the refurbishment of 23 vessels and upgrades to terminal infrastructure. Average fleet availability rose from 60.9% in 2024 to around 80% in 2026, while demand increased by 4.8% between the 2024/25 and 2025/26 summer seasons. The São Paulo State Transport Agency (ARTESP) will oversee the concession.

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