Port Watch Weekly #02-2025 – NL Central America

Port Watch Weekly

week # 02 - 2025

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

January 6 – Dominican Republic, Epiphany Day
Puerto Rico, Epiphany Day
US Virgin Islands, Epiphany Day
January 10 – Bahamas, Majority Rule Day
January 20 – Puerto Rico, Martin Luther King Jr Day
US Virgin Islands, Martin Luther King Jr Day
January 21– Barbados, Errol Barrow Day
Dominican Republic, Lady of Altagracia Day
January 25 – Aruba, G.F. Betico Croes Day
January 26 – Dominican Republic, Juan Pablo Duarte Day
January 27 – Cayman Islands, National Heroes Day

Partner with us for Shipyard Services at Martinique

As part of our commitment to provide comprehensive support to our customers, we are pleased to announce our services as ship agents at the Martinique shipyard.

Our extensive network and local expertise allow us to facilitate all aspects of your vessel’s maintenance, from logistics to coordination with qualified professionals at the shipyard.

Let us help you streamline your operations and ensure that your vessels are well cared for!

Central America

Public Holidays

January 5– Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
January 6 – Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
January 9 – Panama, Martyrs’ Day
January 15 – Belize, George Price Day

Launch of Unión Portuaria del Pacífico (UPdP) Operations at Acajutla and La Unión Terminals

It is with great pleasure that we announce that, starting on December 16, 2024, Unión Portuaria del Pacífico SEM de CV (UPdP) will begin operations at the Acajutla and La Unión terminals. This marks the transition to a new phase of growth, innovation, and commitment to excellence in the port sector of El Salvador.

UPdP is an organization with a solid structure and extensive market knowledge, originating from an international group with a presence in 25 ports around the world, ranked among the top ten global port operators. As the largest private investor in the history of El Salvador, UPdP will be responsible for the development of the Acajutla and La Unión ports, with a total investment of $1.6 billion. We aim to provide clarity on the next steps for our company by addressing the following points:

Handover Status

Over the past few weeks, the handover team and UPdP functional leaders have been working diligently to expedite all necessary sanity checks, inventories, insurances and processes revisions. This is ongoing, with basic functions such as Operations, HR, and Customer Services well advanced. Once finalized, the UPdP organizational structure and contact lists will be shared with the market. Please note that a short operational stoppage is expected during the systems migration from CEPA to Unión Portuaria del Pacífico. Precautions are in place to minimize this interruption.

Upcoming Investment plan

During initial phase, starting upon handover conclusion, UPdP will invest to quickly deliver productivity improvements and optimize port stays at both terminals. This includes equipment acquisition, repair works, asset/structure rehabilitation, and enhancements in Safety & Security.

Commercial Guarantees

As UPdP begins operations as a new company with different execution and investment strategies at Acajutla and La Unión, new commercial agreements will be established between the company and its customers. For the time being, the current tariff structure will be maintained. However, existing credit conditions, if any, will be discontinued as of January 1, 2025.

Line Ups & Industry news

For more information, please:

Acajutla, El Salvador

Port declared “CONGESTED”. Waiting time is around 28-30 days for breakbulk vessels at pier B & C. There are 16 vessels awaiting berth availability.

The repair of pier “A “ is divided into 3 stages:

Currently in Phase 1, (100 meters /A-2), it ends approximately on November 30^th.
The 2nd. Phase (100 meters A-1) will begin in December and end in January 2025.
The 3rd. Phase (133 meters center of pier A). Will begin in January 2025 and is expected to end by March 2025 (Pier will be completely closed).

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.

MAXIMUM DRAFTS:

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

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

Forecasted conditions may be different to those experienced offshore.

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, Dominican Republic

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

The congestion in EPQ fro BB Vessel is 10-15 days waiting time.

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.
Container arriving on daily basis with priority.

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

Caldera, Costa Rica

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

Vessels can experience waiting times as follows:

Main reason of delays is the current rain affecting turnaround time on vessel´s operating at berth.

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

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

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

Puerto Cortes, 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.