The Export Corridor East of the Port of Paranaguá (Corex) is undergoing maintenance. While the new soybean crop is still being developed in the field, the port, at the other end of the logistics chain, is making adjustments and improvements to the structure and operating system to meet the demand for grain disposal, which should intensify from March onwards.
“The services are essential in order to ensure adequate conditions to reach targets for the volume of products shipped, guarantee the performance of equipment, operating costs and productivity, reduce unscheduled stops during the year”, says the director-president of Portos do Paraná , Luiz Fernando Garcia.
Electromechanical maintenance interventions in programmed stoppage occur every year. The public company’s director of maintenance engineering, Victor Kengo, explains that planning for the next scheduled annual maintenance shutdown for the corridor begins as soon as this year’s services are finished.
According to him, with this information, together with the Directorate of Operations, the shutdown schedule of the three berths of Corex is defined. “In this way, while maintenance is carried out on the lines corresponding to a certain berth, the other two remain operating normally, so that it is not necessary to completely stop the operation of export bulk”, says the engineer.
This year, maintenance began on October 24, with a stoppage at berth 212, where all services have already been completed and space has been released. Currently, it is the berth 213 equipment that undergoes this periodic review. The forecast is for it to be closed by the next 22nd. Soon after, on the 23rd, maintenance is scheduled to begin on berth 214. All services should be finished by the end of January.
INVESTMENT – Approximately R$ 19 million was invested in electrical, automation and mechanical maintenance on all six lines, shiploaders and substations, in addition to services such as replacing the arched covers on conveyor belts; replacement of the access stairs to the port strip with the old central panel; maintenance of shiploaders’ power generators (equipment used for loading ships), and supply of materials and electrical and automation components to remodel the physical environment and architecture of remote networks of the automation system of the Export Corridor.
The maintenance carried out at this time is planned throughout the year and involves contracting outsourced companies, purchasing material and other factors that require prior planning. The Association of Terminals in the Export Corridor of the Port of Paranaguá (ATEXP) and the Association of Port Operators in the Export Corridor (AOCEP) work in partnership with Portos do Paraná during annual maintenance. According to cooperation agreements signed with the public company, the associations are responsible for maintaining the equipment.
MOVEMENT – From January to December 15th, 17,712,778 tons of bulk were moved through the three berths of the East Export Corridor of the Port of Paranaguá. The volume is almost 1 million tons greater than that recorded in the period, in 2021.
Source: Portos do Paraná
