Draft will increase from 12.5 meters to 12.8 meters; on average, each meter of operational draft means around 7 thousand more tons of grain moved
Portos do Paraná, a public company owned by the Government of the State of Paraná, will increase the operational draft of ships in five berths at the Port of Paranaguá, namely 201, 202, 204, 209 and 211. The increase is due to the latest dredging campaign . The change was approved by the Paraná Port Authority (CPPR) and expands the operational capacity of the terminals in Paraná.
Draft is the depth between the lowest point of a vessel’s keel and the waterline. With this new change, this distance goes from 12.5 meters to 12.8 meters in the West Export Corridor, General Cargo, and fertilizer berths.
“Last year we increased the navigation draft in the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá and operation in the berthing berths of the Eastern Export Corridor. This year, after the last dredging campaign, and technical discussions within the scope of the Portos do Paraná Operational Gains Working Group, also composed of the Paraná Port Authority and the 17th Pilotage Zone, we are increasing the maximum operational draft of the berths, which will imply an increase in the movement of general cargo, fertilizers, soybeans, bran, corn and sugar”, explained Victor Kengo, director of Engineering and Maintenance at Portos do Paraná.
The increase in draft has a direct impact on boarding capacity, ensuring greater competitiveness in the international market. On average, each meter of operational draft means around 7 thousand more tons of bulk moved. The estimated operational gain is 2,100 more tons of cargo per ship. In other words, in principle, more than 378 thousand tons per year, for an average of 180 ships.
WEST CORRIDOR – The bulk shipment system through the Western Export Corridor in Paranaguá was responsible for moving more than 5% of all cargo in the ports of Paraná, which reached almost 3 million tons in 2023.
“Since the beginning of the current administration, we have turned our attention to the West side, which was little explored and which today we identify as the new frontier to be explored. Our objective is to increasingly develop this end of the port strip to meet market demand and generate jobs and more income for the region”, stated Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.
Source: Portos do Paraná
