Largest ship ever to dock at the Port of Santos sets sail

The largest container ship to dock at the Port of Santos, CMA CGM Vela, measuring 347.4 meters, set sail around 2:50 pm on Wednesday (Oct 26). The departure maneuver was carried out in the afternoon and caused the interruption of the ferry crossing between Santos and Guarujá from 2 pm to 3 pm. The Brazilian Navy oversaw the operation.

Due to the interruption of the crossing service, drivers found queues of up to 50 minutes on both sides.

The largest freighter ship ever seen on Santos’ shores is 71.9 meters high and 45.2 meters wide. The vessel holds up to 11,264 TEU, and its minimum draft is 14 meters. At the Santos pier, 1,500 containers were handled.

The operation took place at Tecon, managed by Santos Brasil, on the Left Bank of the port complex in the city of Guarujá. A special strategy was envisaged for the CMA CGM Vela’s departure, just like it happened with its arrival.

As per the rule, two pilots were on board, and six tugs were used. Two were in reserve. The operation also involved seven vessels from the Maritime Authority.

The arrival of the CMA CGM Vela vessel was the first major event since the Port of Santos was approved to receive larger ships. At the time, the process involved the Pilotage of São Paulo and the University of São Paulo (USP).

The two institutions carried out simulations and maneuverability studies in addition to developing hydrodynamic and morning interaction, proving that the traffic of larger vessels is feasible. The researchers used mathematical simulations taking into account the current characteristics of the channel, with a depth of 15 meters and a future scenario of a 17 meters depth viable for ships of up to 15,000 TEU.

Bystanders

The ship’s arrival and departure from the Port of Santos attracted dozens of people to the Fisherman’s Deck. The size of the vessel drew attention and caused several people to applaud the maneuver.

Source: A Tribuna

To read the full original article, please go to: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/maior-navio-na-historia-do-porto-de-santos-zarpa-do-cais-santista-

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