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Cruzeiro do Sul City Hall, through the Municipal Secretariat of Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with the Brazilian Navy held this Thursday, 9th, the graduation of 23 new River Auxiliary Sailors who received their nautical driving license, also known as the Amador Driving License, CHA. The event took place on the Rio Liberdade Bridge and benefited boatmen from the Periquito and Tristeza communities who participated in the training and are now able and documented to transport people, students, goods and tourists.
The event took place on the Ponte do Rio Liberdade and benefited boatmen from the Periquito and Tristeza communities/Photo: Provided
The Amateur Driver’s License, CHA, is the mandatory document issued by the Brazilian Navy that proves the driver’s ability to operate vessels. To obtain it, the interested party must be over 18 years old and take a course with theoretical and practical classes, in addition to passing exams. The card is valid for 5 years and prevents these professionals from facing problems with fines for irregularities during their activities.
According to the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development and Tourism, more than 50 waterway workers have already been trained in Cruzeiro do Sul in 2025 alone, through the City Hall’s partnership with the Brazilian Navy, including boatmen on the Croa and Liberdade rivers.
Nádima Lima, from Comunidade Tristeza, who took the course, highlighted the importance of qualifying boatmen.
“For me, it is very gratifying to participate in the course, not only representing women, but also because we will be legal, knowing all the Navy’s regulations and we will sail safely. I want to thank Mayor Zequinha Lima for giving this opportunity to all of us.”
Francisco Vaneilson Pinheiro, from the same community, says he now feels safer transporting people and goods.
“It’s a very important course because we qualify. We didn’t have the knowledge of the laws and from the course, from this partnership, we ended up acquiring the knowledge we need to transport more safely on the river. The mayor is to be congratulated for serving our community.”
Captain Adriano Bernardo, Commander of the Brazilian Navy in Cruzeiro do Sul, highlighted the importance of the course in the safety of navigation in the region and the importance of the partnership with the administration of Mayor Zequinha Lima. He explained that the course is a level 2 course, and that the 23 new waterway workers are able to drive any type of vessel after the course, which had a workload of 90 hours.
The course is a level 2 category, and the 23 new waterway workers are able to drive any type of vessel/Photo: Provided
” It is a course with several disciplines related to navigation safety, first aid, all the knowledge necessary for the new waterway worker to be able to drive a vessel safely and have knowledge of the rules of the maritime authority. The Cruzeiro do Sul Fluvial Agency is responsible for professional maritime education in Cruzeiro do Sul and the entire Juruá Valley. Thanks to the recent partnership between the Navy and the city hall, we were able to expand the provision of new courses and training more and more waterways. The navy and the city hall will continue working to offer more and more opportunities and we will spare no effort so that we can soon hold more courses here in the region”, emphasized the Captain.
Janaína Terças, Municipal Secretary of Urban Development and Tourism, highlights that Mayor Zequinha Lima’s management always seeks to strengthen partnerships and qualify people to best serve residents and tourists who visit Cruzeiro do Sul.
“This is the second course taught through the Conta Marinha partnership. More than 50 people, including those from Rio Liberdade and Rio Croa, are qualified with their nautical license to carry out this safe transport of our riverside residents, food, students and tourists who come to discover our beauties”, concluded Janaína.
