Port Watch Weekly

week # 41

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

  • October 7 – Saint Lucia, Thanksgiving Day
  • October 9 – Saint Barthélemy, Abolition Day
  • October 10 – Cuba, Independence Day
    Curaçao, Curaçao Day
  • October 14 – Bahamas, National Heroes Day
    Puerto Rico, Columbus Day
    Saint Maarten, Constitution Day
    Turks and Caicos Islands, National Heritage Day
    US Virgin Islands, Columbus Day
  • October 17 –Haiti, Independence Day
  • October 19 –Grenada, National Heroes Day
  • October 21 –British Virgin Islands, Heroes and Foreparents Day
                            Jamaica, National Heroes Day
  • October 25 – Grenada, Thanksgiving Day
  • October 27 – Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Independence Day
  • October 28 – Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Independence Day
  • October 31 –Trinidad and Tobago, Diwali

 

Eastern Gulf & Freeport, Bahamas

MAJOR HURRICANE MILTON IN THE EASTERN GULF AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR FREEPORT, BAHAMAS WITH HAZARDOUS MARINE CONDITIONS // 0800HRS UPDATE OCTOBER 9TH 2024

Please be advised that Freeport, Bahamas is currently under tropical storm warning. We expect increasingly hazardous marine condition tonight until mid-Friday.

As of latest weather forecast released for today winds may gust from 30-35knots, moderate rain and thunderstorms with 3-6ft swells. At this moment Buckeye Bahamas Hub terminal and Liwathon port are closed due to inclement weather conditions with all OPL activities being suspended until improvement of weather conditions.

 

Note weather conditions is expected to be favorable Sunday October 13th 2024. We will continue to be in contact with MET office and terminals for further updates.

October 6th , 2024.

  •         09:30hrs Buckeye went into port restricted.

October 7th , 2024.

  • 03:06 Buckeye went into port closed

October 7th , 2024.

  • 03:06 OPL activities suspended.

***TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS POSTED FOR OUR AREA***

***DETERIORATING & HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE PREDICTED RIGHT INTO FRIDAY***

***TROPICAL TROUBLES PREDICTED TO RAMP-UP TONIGHT THRU THURSDAY***

Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal –PORT CLOSED OCTOBER 7TH 2024 AT 03:06LT.

LIWATHON Terminal – PORT CLOSED OCTOBER 6TH AT 14:00LT                               

Offshore Lightering- Weather Conditions MONITORED for STS operations at Offshore ,Freeport , Bahamas.

 

LNG Bunkering Service at the Grand Bahama Anchorage

 As part of our constant search for innovative end-to-end solutions to our customers’ needs, we remain vigilant to new, cleaner, and more efficient marine bunkering solutions in the region through our extensive and knowledgeable network. We are therefore delighted to share our new state-of-the-art LNG bunkering agency service in Freeport (Bahamas).

We invite you to lead the way towards a more sustainable maritime industry. Contact us to coordinate today with our operations experts.

Central America

Public Holidays

 

  • October 11 – Guatemala, Bank Holiday
  • October 12 – Belize, Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance Day
                            
    Guatemala, Día de la Raza
  • October 20 – Guatemala, Revolution Day
  • October 21 – Guatemala, Bank Holiday

Line Ups & Industry news

For more information, please: 

Acajutla, El Salvador

Port declared “CONGESTED”. Waiting time is around 20-25 days for breakbulk vessels at pier B & C. 

The repair of pier “A “ is divided into 3 stages, we are in Phase 1, (100 meters /A-2), it ends approximately on October 30th, the 2nd. Phase (100 meters A-1) will begin in November and end in January 2025, and the 3rd. Phase (133 meters center of pier A).  Complete closure of the pier is expected to end by March 25th.

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

The congestion in EPQ is 5-10 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.

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).

Weather Forecast

Forecasted conditions may be different to those experienced offshore.

Puerto Caldera

Puerto Plata

Rio Haina

Puerto Cortes

Puerto Quetzal