Port Watch Weekly

week # 24

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

June 14 – British Virgin Islands, Sovereign’s Day
June 16 – Puerto Rico, Father’s Day
June 17 – Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Celebration of the Birthday of His Majesty the King
June 19 – Puerto Rico, Juneteenth
Trinidad &Tobago, Labour Day

Bahamas

Unfavorable Weather Conditions Passing Port Freeport, Grand Bahamas

Inclement weather conditions at Freeport, Bahamas expected to last until Friday June 14th, 2024.

June 11th , 2024-1630hrs Buckeye went into port restricted.
16:30hrs weather conditions suspended for OPL activities.

Haiti

The situation is stable in port. Vessels are still arriving and sailing smoothly. However, no crew changes are being made as the situation remains volatile.

Central America

El Salvador

Warning for rain due to the proximity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the passage of a Tropical Wave.

The General Directorate of Civil Protection has issued a Rain Warning owing to the close proximity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the passage of a Tropical Wave. These atmospheric conditions are expected to sustain rainfall, abundant cloud cover, and heightened humidity in the days ahead.

Additional details can be consulted in the attached Caribbean Flash!

Line Ups & Industry news

For more information, please:

Puerto Cortés, Honduras

For Break bulk vessel the main reason of waiting time is berth availability taking into consideration that containers vessel has berthing priority. Weather also might impact operations at all piers.

Option to work on berth #4 – is only available for general cargo vessel. Please bear in mind operations at this berth are subject to direct discharge only.

Draft port restrictions as follows:

Pier 5: 478.5 meters length (Max allowed drafts 11 mts).

Pier 6: 350 meters length (Max allowed drafts 14 mts).

Acajutla, El Salvador

Waiting time is around 10-15 days for breakbulk vessels at pier B & C. Berthing is subject to suitable marine/weather conditions and pilot criteria.

Keep in mind berthing is subject to arrival of any container vessel as they have priority; this being said – if container vessel arrived while we are at anchorage automatically will be working prior to our vessel.

To discharge heavy cargo on Pier B4/B6, ship cranes /shore equipment- is required. For heavy cargo we suggest calling Pier C to use shore crane.

Cargo with civil liability policy
Cargo dimensions ( HxWx L of all pcs)
Unit weight per piece
Pictures/condition of the cargo
Crew should manage cranes
If any special equipment needed, it should be coordinated with anticipation to avoid delays
Stevedores will handle vessel crane when discharge heavy cargo
Port will request receivers to be ready with trucks.

Now, berthing is based on below priority list:

Cruise vessel
Sugar & molasses loading vessels
Containers
Bulk carrier with food and perishable cargo
RORO
Cement/steel, etc.

In the event that the government issues a letter to CEPA (Customs and Excise Ports Authority) indicating that a vessel carries essential cargo vital to the country, the terminal shall accord priority to this vessel.

Extra mooring lines onboard are suggested in case Terminal cannot supply as ACJ is at open sea and current swell conditions are affecting the piers.
Vessels that arrived with draft higher than 11.2m can only work at Pier C, which is dedicated to Containers vessels.

Puerto Plata

Berthing is subject to suitable marine/weather conditions and pilot criteria.

Forecasted conditions may be different to those experienced offshore.

Waiting time cannot be estimated but now both ports are congested.

LOA 700 ft BEAM 100ft

Min depth 10.2m at pier #4 west
Min depth 10.2m at pier #5 west
Recommended UKC 0.3m
Density SW 1.025.

Rio Haina

Waiting time cannot be estimated at this point due to severe port congestion.

Current port restrictions:

LOA 760ft BEAM 105ft

– Min depth 10.1m at pier #4 west.

– Min depth 10.9m at pier #5 west.

– Min depth 9.8m at pier #3 east.

– Min depth 9.9m at pier #4 east.

– Min depth 10.4m at pier #5 east.

– Recommended UKC 0.3m.

– Density BW varies between 1.016 and 1.025.

Puerto Quetzal

Due to rain and congestion, there are 24-23 ships waiting for berthing at anchorage.

Regular and consistent liner traffic, two (2) of these berths are solely used for liner/container vessels.

These vessels include container ships with perishable cargo, passenger ships and military vessels.
The remaining two (2) berths are to be used for all other types of cargo.

LOA restriction – Berths: 1 – 4 -200 MT long each and accommodate as per LOA availability.

Container arriving on daily basis with priority.

Currently no weather issues. BB times are approximately 15-20 days.

Caldera

Tentative Caldera Port planning for the next few days is available on request with our team.

Vessels can experience waiting times as follows:

Note: These waiting days are subject to weather condition, arrival drafts and type of cargo detailed as follows:

MPP and dry-bulk carriers are assigned for docking at berth #4 which has a max permissible draft of 12.3m SW.
Average water density in Caldera Port is 1.018
Main reason of delays is the current rain affecting turnaround time on vessel´s operating at berth.

Berth priorities: 1- Cruiser, 2- Perishable cargoes (reefer containers), 3- Ro-Ro (short time call), 4- grain vessels (at berth #4), 5- General cargo.

MPP and dry-bulk carriers may be assigned to dock other berths subject to priorities vessel type as follows:

UPDATED PORT DIMENSIONS:

Pier N° 1 length: 210 meters
(Official DRAFT for General cargo Vessel 10.50 mts) | CONTAINER VESSEL´S HAVE PRIORITY
Pier N° 2 length: 150 meters
(Official DRAFT for General cargo Vessel 9.50 mts)
Pier N° 3 length: 190 meters (Official DRAFT for General cargo Vessel 6.75 mts)
Pier N ° 4 length: 250 meters (Official DRAFT for General cargo Vessel 12.30 mts) | GRAIN VESSEL´S HAVE PRIORITY