Fog Disrupts Port Operations at Porto de Santos

Port operations at the Port of Santos are frequently weighed down by fog or mist that makes navigation impossible, as it did at the end of last month and once more at the start of this month.

Maritime cabotage (coastal shipping between domestic ports) is particularly affected, explained Luís Resano, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Cabotage Shipowners (ABAC). He noted that these conditions lead to delays and shortened loading and unloading operations for ships.

“If a port is closed for three hours during the time the ship was scheduled to arrive, its operations will be delayed by three hours. As a result, there will be minimal time to load, unload, and move on to the next port. This creates a domino effect in cabotage,” Resano explains.

According to Resano, such situations reinforce the outdated notion that cabotage is unpredictable. “The arrival day of the ship is predictable, as is the moment of cargo handover. However, these unforeseen events can impact the credibility of cabotage,” he points out.

Safety

The São Paulo Navy’s Captaincy (CPSP) determines the suspension of vessel arrivals and departures when horizontal visibility in the channel drops below 1,000 meters. According to Captain Marcus André de Souza e Silva, the measure is necessary to ensure the safety of ships and seafarers.

“This reduction in visibility can obscure navigation hazards and other vessels and lead to disorientation, resulting in reduced reaction time, collisions, and disappearances of people and vessels,” he says.

Captain Silva notes that although some vessels are equipped to navigate in low visibility and that the work of pilots and tugboats contributes to safety, navigation suspension is required due to the physical and geographic characteristics of Porto de Santos.

“The channel is narrow—220 meters wide. There is a high volume of small vessels, as well as ferry crossings and proximity to urban areas. These factors increase the risk of operations in low visibility conditions,” he explains.

According to Viriato Geraldes, Operations Manager at Santos Pilotage, pilots’ work is also compromised when visibility is reduced.

“Pilots rely heavily on visual cues; navigation is a personal skill that requires familiarity with local conditions,” he explains. “Sometimes, a ship must dock in areas where space between vessels is very tight, so visibility is crucial.”

Possible Solutions

Resano suggests that the impact of fog on navigation could be mitigated with technological solutions such as VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Management Information System). “I believe investing in technology and maritime traffic safety is necessary.”

Geraldes agrees that navigation suspension would still be necessary in adverse weather conditions, even with the system in place. “The presence of such a system is not a cure-all, as our operations center in Santos performs a role beyond just VTMIS.”

Captain Silva emphasizes that the risk level would still be high even if equipment allows navigation under adverse conditions. “Unless there is significant damage, an emergency, or imminent risk to life, navigation safety must prevail,” he concludes.

Source: A Tribuna

Click here to access the original text: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/nevoeiros-causam-prejuizos-no-porto-de-santos-e-afetam-operac-es-1.430142

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