Deeper draft approved for Brazil’s Port of Antonina

On Tuesday (29), Portos do Paraná, the state-controlled port authority of Paraná, updated the Maritime Traffic and Stay Regulations for the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina. The adjustment involved an increase in the operational draft for the Port of Antonina. With berths, the maneuvering basin, and the access channel dredged, the gain was 0.5 meters.

Draft refers to the depth to which vessels can be submerged in the water when loaded. With this alteration, the draft measurement has increased from 8.5 meters to 9 meters at Antonina. This change allows ships to enter or depart with more cargo, making the Port of Antonina more attractive to prospective customers.

“By contract, it is our responsibility to keep the access channel and maneuvering basin of Antonina Port dredged. These 9 meters represent another advancement that we achieved in partnership with the Pilots’ Association, tugboat companies, and the Brazilian Navy,” explains Luiz Fernando Garcia, the CEO of Portos do Paraná.

According to him, this gain directly translates to more cargo and lower costs for the users of the Port of Antonina. “We are not only developing Paranaguá but also Antonina, ensuring better conditions and more business opportunities,” he adds.

At the two berths in Antonina, operated by the lessee company Porto Ponta do Félix, ships with a length (LOA) of up to 200 meters and a width (beam) of 34 meters can dock.

“The increased draft means at least 4,000 more tonnes per ship,” states Gilberto Birkhan, President of Porto Ponta do Félix. “This has a huge impact on municipal revenue, generates more income and jobs within port activities, and extends to the productive sector.”

DREDGING – Victor Kengo, the Director of Engineering at Portos do Paraná, explains that the new draft approved for the Port of Antonina is a result of the latest dredging campaign, combined with the Pilots’ Association’s study of tide conditions.

This activity is part of the current phase of the Maintenance Dredging Program, initiated in 2019 and approved by Ibama – the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.

“In June, we successfully concluded the maintenance dredging of the access to Antonina. In accordance with the newly established regulation governing maneuvers with a 9-meter draft, ships are required to anchor until suitable conditions of current, wind, and tide are achieved for berthing maneuvers,” the director affirms. He further emphasizes that the lessee company is responsible for berth dredging.

Kengo explains that once the dredging activities are completed, the port authority submits the request to the maritime authority – the Brazilian Navy, through the Captaincy of the Ports of Paraná – which reviews the merits and may seek assistance from the local Pilots’ Association.

When the request is approved, the Captaincy of the Ports of Paraná grants consent, and from that point, the port authority issues an Operational Order/Ordinance to enforce the measures. This was recently issued as Ordinance number 238-2023.

Source: Bem Paraná

To read the original news article, visit: https://www.bemparana.com.br/noticias/economia/dragagem-amplia-ganho-operacional-do-porto-de-antonina-no-parana/

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