Port Watch Weekly

week # 27

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

July 1: Bonaire, St Eustasius and Saba, Emancipation Day. British Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Day. Cayman Islands, Constitution Day. Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Carnival Monday. Sint Maarten, Emancipation Day.

July 2: Curacao, National Flag and Anthem Day. Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Carnival Tuesday

July 3: US Virgin Islands, VI Emancipation Day

July 4: Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, Independence Day

July 10: Bahamas, Independence Day. Montserrat, National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

July 14: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin National Day.

July 25: Cuba, Revolution Anniversary. Puerto Rico, Constitution Day. 

July 26: Cuba, Revolution Anniversary.

July 27: Cuba, Revolution Anniversary. Puerto Rico, José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday

July 29: Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, Carnival Monday. 

Cayman Islands, Jamaica Dominican Republic, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique and other Caribbean Islands.

Hurricane Beryl

 Hurricane Beryl strengthened again Monday morning into a Category 4.

Due to the trajectory of Hurricane Beryl, the Rio Haina Port Emergency Committee has determined that the Vessels at port must depart before 06:00 AM on July 2, 2024.

Hurricane warnings are already in effect in Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Tobago. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Martinique and Trinidad, while a tropical storm watch is in effect in Dominica, the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward and the south coast of Haiti from the Dominican border to Anse d’Hainault.

Hurricane Beryl is currently impacting the Cayman Islands after devastating other Caribbean islands, notably Jamaica, where more than a month’s worth of rain fell alongside relentless winds.

Additional details can be consulted in the attached Caribbean Flash!

Central America

Public Holidays

July 1: Guatemala, Army Day Holiday. Panama, Presidential Inauguration Day

July 19: Nicaragua, Sandinista Revolution Anniversary

July 20: Nicaragua, Bank Holiday

July 25: Costa Rica, Guanacaste Day

Line Ups & Industry News

For more information, please: 

Acajutla, El Salvador

Port declared “CONGESTED. Waiting time is around 10-15 days for breakbulk vessels at pier B & C.

Pier A-2 is out of service for maintenance.

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:

  1. Cruise vessel
  2. Sugar & molasses loading vessels
  3. Containers
  4. Bulk carrier with food and perishable cargo
  5. RORO
  6. 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, Guatemala

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.

 

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
  • Main reason of delays is the current rain affecting turnaround time on vessel´s operating at berth.
  • 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 12.50 mts) | GRAIN VESSEL´S HAVE PRIORITY

Weather Forecast

Forecasted conditions may be different to those experienced offshore.

Puerto Quetzal

Acajutla, El Salvador

Rio Haina

Puerto Plata

Caldera