Port of Itaqui conducts first ship-to-ship cargo transfer operation

On Wednesday, the 6th, the Port of Itaqui carried out its first Ship-to-Ship (STS) operation, a cargo transfer maneuver between two vessels in open seas or port areas. Such maneuver guarantees more logistical efficiency and allows for cargo transfer between ships, saving time and fuel.

Ship-to-Ship operations offer flexibility in cargo distribution, reduce costs by avoiding port fees and other associated expenses, and maximize operational efficiency by reducing waiting times.

From now on, STS operations will become common at Itaqui, depending solely on demand. In terms of operational gains, it is expected that there will be an optimization of the ship queue, increased movement in liquid bulk operations, and, consequently, higher revenue generated from these operations. However, it is difficult to estimate this without knowing the frequency of such operations.

Fuel Hub

The Port of Itaqui is one of Brazil’s most important hubs for receiving and distributing petroleum derivatives, including diesel, gasoline, aviation kerosene (QAV), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and marine fuel (MGO) from other countries and states in Brazil.

Fuel arrives by ship, with a portion being unloaded at distributors to supply gasoline stations in the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Tocantins, Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Pará via railways and highways. Another portion is transferred from one ship to another for distribution to other Brazilian coastal ports, such as Fortaleza (CE), Belém (PA), and Itacoatiara (AM).

It’s worth noting that on July 12th of this year, the Port of Itaqui conducted the first test of side-by-side vessel berthing for liquid bulk operations. The simulation took place at berth 106.

The test, conducted between the Flagship ship from the United States and the Nave Atria from Belém (PA), aimed to demonstrate the safety of the maneuver to the authorities responsible for authorizing such operations at the public port of Maranhão.

Source: O Imparcial

To read the original story, visit: https://oimparcial.com.br/noticias/2023/09/porto-do-itaqui-realiza-primeira-operacao-ship-to-ship-sts-para-combustiveis/

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