Port Watch Weekly #43 – NL Central America

Port Watch Weekly

week # 43

Caribbean Updates

Public Holidays

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

Freeport, Bahamas

BUCKEYE BAHAMAS HUB TERMINAL IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING PORT FREEPORT, BAHAMAS OCTOBER 23RD 2024 // 0700HRS UPDATE

Please be advised that marine conditions at port Freeport, Bahamas has greatly improved, and Buckeye Bahamas Hub is presently in the process of opening port. Note terminal pilot is attempting to berth vessels at the outer jetties. We will revert with official open time once received from terminal.

We will continue to be in close contact with terminal planners and local MET office for further updates.

October 21st , 2024.

15:00hrs Buckeye went into port closed.

***NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL TEMPORARILY DIMINISH THRU THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS***

***HAZARDOUS MARINE CONDITIONS WILL RETURN MAINLY ON OUR NORTH SHORE WATERS AFTER THE WEEKEND***

Buckeye Bahamas Hub Terminal – PORT CLOSED OCTOBER 21ST 2024 AT 15:00HRS.

Equinor South Riding Point Terminal – OPEN

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 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 30^th, 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 25^th.

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 for 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.