Drone Rules for Port of Imbituba
The airspace over the Port of Imbituba (Porto de Imbituba) (Imbituba, SC) is classified as a Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ). Recreational and hobbyist drone flights are strictly prohibited. Institutional, commercial, or technical operations are heavily restricted.
The Port of Imbituba, managed by the state enterprise SCPar Porto de Imbituba, is one of the primary logistical hubs in southern Brazil. Located on the open coast of Santa Catarina, it features a deep-water harbor protected by a massive breakwater and handles diverse cargoes, including containers, coke, fertilizers, salt, and steel components.
Operating a drone in this complex involves significant operational risks due to both its industrial function and its unique geographic location:
High-Volatility Wind Shears: Because Imbituba is an open-sea coastal port, it is frequently subjected to intense and unpredictable maritime wind gusts. This drastically elevates the risk of a drone losing structural control or battery power, potentially causing it to crash into high-speed automated bulk conveyor systems or onto docking vessels.
Rigid Port Security: Operating under the international ISPS Code, the entire customs perimeter is closely monitored. Uncoordinated aerial flights raise alarms regarding industrial espionage, illegal tracking of cargo shipments, or structural sabotage of bulk storage units.
To conduct legal professional operations (such as topographic port surveying, breakwater structural inspections, or authorized media production):
SCPar Authorization: Operators must submit a comprehensive formal request directly to the Port Administration's security division well ahead of the scheduled flight.
Required Documentation: The pilot must provide the drone's ANAC SISANT registration, ANATEL equipment certification, an operational risk analysis matrix, and a valid RETA aviation liability insurance policy.
DECEA Verification: After obtaining the port authority's conditional approval, the pilot must log the flight plan and secure final airspace release through the SARPAS NG database.
If an unauthorized drone is detected within the port limits, the Port Guard (Guarda Portuária) will deploy active electronic countermeasures to neutralize or jam the aircraft's control frequencies. The equipment will be confiscated, and the pilot will be detained and handed over to the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) under federal statutes protecting critical national transport infrastructure.