[7] The port of Tubarão was a pioneering project - designed by Eliezer Batista (pt) - which helped create a new global logistics process in the transport of solid and liquid bulk.

[9] He explained his difficulties to the Minister of Finance at the time, during a hearing that has become historic: Tubarão became the bridge that linked Vale S.A. to the rest of the world and enabled the company to significantly increase overall Brazilian exports.

Its construction immediately attracted a veritable "flood" of new foreign investments to Brazil, such as Celulose Nipo Brasileira SA- Cenibra, Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão, Albrás - Alunorte (alumina and aluminum), Mineração da Serra Geral (iron ore) and Nova Era Silicon (ferrosilicon alloys, etc.)

and the first major overseas project CSI (California Steel Industries / Joint Venture from Vale with Kawasaki), which somehow helped absolve the finance minister of the 'time, San Tiago Dantas, of the "sin" of having authorized the printing of money for its creation.

At least 60 types of products pass through the site, including iron ore, steel, soybeans, coal and limestone along 905 kilometers of railroad, which accounts for around 40% of the rail freight of the country.