Port Of Paranaguá Attracts Large Vessels For Operations At 10 Active Berths With Deeper Draft This Week

Investments in the Depth Expansion at the Port of Paranaguá Are Yielding Good Results. The 10 Berths Operating with Greater Draft Are Now Attracting Large Ships for Cargo Handling.

One of the most important complexes in the state of Paraná, the Port of Paranaguá is investing in expanding its operational capacity this Tuesday (11/15). Out of the 18 berths that make up the complex, a total of 10 are operating with greater draft this week. This way, large ships can carry out cargo handling operations, increasing the amount of cargo handled and reducing the operating costs for companies and the port authority in the activities.

Investments at the Port of Paranaguá Ensure Higher Quality in Cargo Handling with Large Ships at Berths Operating with Greater Draft

The recent operational gains at the Port of Paranaguá reinforce the port authority’s position regarding the expansion of the port’s presence in the national cargo handling scenario. 

The complex has been receiving significant investments to expand its operational capacity, and the benefits are being harvested in the state of Paraná. 

These results were achieved with the latest upgrades to the draft, which is the maximum depth that vessels can be submerged in water.

A total of 10 out of the 18 berths in the port complex are performing operations with greater draft, thereby attracting large ships for cargo handling. 

Berths 205/206 at the Port of Paranaguá (designated for General Cargo) have increased from 10.90 to 12 meters. Meanwhile, berths 209 and 211 (designated for unloading solid bulk imports), which had a draft of 11.30 meters, now have 12.50 m.

The three berths of the Eastern Export Corridor — 212, 213, and 214 — also received improvements, increasing to between 12.50 and 12.80 meters. Finally, the berths dedicated to container operations — 216, 217, and 218 — increased from 12.30 to as much as 13 meters of draft.

This is an investment that brings significant benefits to the final results of cargo handling operations at the complex. 

The main benefit is the ability to expand the carrying capacity of ships, thereby increasing cargo handling. On average, each meter of operational draft means approximately 7,000 more tons of grain or 300 extra containers. 

Moreover, operating costs are significantly reduced with the increased draft at the complex.

Portos do Paraná Reinforces Position in Expanding the Presence of the Port Complex in the Sector

“We can attribute the operational gains to the progress of the dredging project, the widening of the access channel from the latest dredging works, the adjustments to the buoyage and nautical signals, and the creation of a new technical group to guide these operations,” commented the CEO of Portos do Paraná, Luiz Fernando Garcia.

The group includes participants from Portos do Paraná, Piloting, and the Harbor Master’s Office, and its main objective is to ensure operational gains at the Port of Paranaguá. 

With the completion of the draft expansion at the complex, the company is preparing to begin dredging works as early as the start of 2023. 

Thus, this is yet another initiative to further expand operations with large ships at the Paranaense complex.

In addition to the berths at Portos do Paraná in the complex, Cattalini Terminais Marítimos, a Private Use Terminal (TUP) at the Port of Paranaguá, also increased the draft at one of its two own berths.

The company supports the port authority in seeking new large-scale operations and intends to take advantage of the moment to expand its business in the national market.