Aliança pulls ALCT1 cabotage service from Sepetiba for Rio de Janeiro

Aliança, the Brazilian shipping arm of Maersk, will move its ALCT1 domestic cabotage service from Sepetiba to the Port of Rio de Janeiro on 4 December 2026 to improve schedule reliability. The shift consolidates the carrier’s regional operations at the Rio Brasil Terminal, ending its current call at Sepetiba in Itaguaí.

The weekly service, which Maersk markets as G1D, uses four container vessels to link ports across southern, southeastern, northeastern, and northern Brazil. Maersk confirmed that vessel deployment, frequency, and operational capacity will remain unchanged despite the terminal swap. The revised rotation will run from Rio de Janeiro to Itapoá, Santos, Salvador, Suape, Pecém, Manaus, and back through Pecém and Suape to Rio de Janeiro.

The final departure from Sepetiba is scheduled for the Sebastiao Caboto, voyage 648N, on 27 November 2026. The Pedro Alvares Cabral, voyage 649N, will perform the inaugural call at Rio Brasil Terminal on 4 December 2026. Maersk stated the adjustment is intended to support the continuity and reliability of the service while maintaining the existing domestic network.

Why it matters

Maersk is prioritizing operational consistency over its existing footprint in Itaguaí. By citing the need for continuity and reliability, the carrier suggests that the current arrangement at Sepetiba no longer meets the requirements of a strict weekly cabotage schedule. Shifting to Rio Brasil Terminal allows Aliança to centralize its Rio-area volumes at a single facility, likely simplifying its shoreside logistics and reducing the risk of schedule delays.

This move creates a clear divide for cargo owners in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Shippers who previously utilized the Sepetiba gateway for domestic connections to Manaus or the northeast must now reroute cargo to the Port of Rio de Janeiro. This change adds drayage costs and complexity for businesses located closer to Itaguaí, while benefiting those with easier access to the Rio Brasil Terminal.

For terminal operators, the shift is a zero-sum gain within the same metropolitan region. Rio Brasil Terminal secures a consistent weekly service and the associated domestic volumes, while Sepetiba loses a primary link to the Brazilian cabotage network. The decision reflects a broader trend of carriers concentrating calls at terminals that can guarantee the berth windows necessary to maintain weekly rotations without increasing vessel deployment.

What to watch

The transition begins with the Sebastiao Caboto’s final Sepetiba departure on 27 November 2026, followed by the first Rio de Janeiro call on 4 December 2026.

Source: Container News