Port of Paranaguá increases vessel draft by five more berths

Change allows and larger loads

The Port Authority of Paraná approved the increase in the operational draft of ships in five berths at the Port of Paranaguá. The change occurs due to the latest dredging campaign and expands the port’s operational capacity

Draft is the depth between the lowest point of a vessel’s keel and the waterline. With the change, this distance increases 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”, said Victor Kengo, director of Engineering and Maintenance at the public company Portos do Paraná. The increase in the maximum operational draft of the berths will imply the possibility of increasing the movement of general cargo, fertilizers, soybeans, bran, corn and sugar, says the director.

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. Theoretically, more than 378 thousand tons per year, for an average of 180 ships.

Privatization – The state public company and the Government of Paraná intend to privatize the access channel – “Canal da Galheta” – and leave the revenue from charging fees in exchange for dredging the site to a company.

Source: https://www.correiodolitoral.com/70993/porto-de-paranagua-aumenta-calado-de-navios-em-mais-cinco-bercos/