Port Watch Weekly #15 2025 – NL Central America

Port Watch Weekly

week # 15- 2025

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

April 16 – Dominican Republic, Holy Wednesday
April 17 – Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands, Maundy Thursday
April 18 – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, St. Eusatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, Good Friday
April 20 – Bonaire, St. eustatius and Saba Curacao, Sint Maarten, Easter
April 21 – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, St. Eusatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, Good Monday
April 26 – Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba, Sint Maarten, King’s Day Holiday
April 27 – Aruba, Curacao, King’s Day
April 28 – Barbados, National Heroes Day
April 30 – Bonaire, Rincon Day
                  St. Eustatius and Saba, Rincon Day
                  Cayman Islands, Public Holiday
                  Sint Maarten, Carnival Day

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Central America

Public Holidays

April 11 – Costa Rica, Juan Santamaria Day
April 12 – El Salvador, Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
April 13 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
April 14 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
April 15 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
April 16 – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday
April 17 – Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Maundy Thrusday
April 18 – Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Good Friday
April 19 – Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Holy Saturday
April 20 – Nicaragua, Easter
April 21 – Belize, Easter Monday
                  Dominica, Easter Monday
                  Honduras, America’s Day Holiday
                  Nicaragua, Public Sector Holiday

Line Ups & Industry news

For more information, please:

Acajutla, El Salvador

Waiting time is around 25-30 days for breakbulk vessels at pier B & C.

Due to the ongoing transition from CEPA to Yilport administration, they are experiencing delays in providing the port lineup and performance information. Reverting asap with updated port line up

Currently, the repair work on the dock “A2” is stopped until further notice”. (LOA 300m – 120m not usable = 180m).

Currently capable to attend 180m.

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 15-30 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.