MAIN URUGUAYAN PORTS
Port of Montevideo
Lat 34º55'S Long 56º13'W - The anteport is to the North of the entrance, between the breakwaters. The eastern breakwater projecting from Punta Sarandi is 940 m long and the western breakwater lying at right angles to the eastern one is 1300 m long. The passage between the two breakwaters is 300 m wide. The anchoring zone in the anteport requires dredging, and there is no room for more than five vessels. Where there are no buoys, it is usual to make a running moor.
There are 4 mooring buoys in the anteport, to which vessels moor stern on to transship cargo, F.G. reefer vessels receive frozen fish in transshipment here, with fishing vessels lying on either side of the on-carrying vessel. Use of tugs to anchor or leave anchorage at the anteport only is not obligatory. The maximum speed in the anteport is 6 knots and 8 knots in the entrance channel, reduced to 4 knots inside the basins.
The port is in the south side of the Montevideo bay. It has three basins, 2 for ocean-going vessels and one for river traffic, these basins being formed by 1) the coastal/river quay and quay A (coastal/river basin), 2) quays "A" and "B" (basin Nr. 1) and 3) quay "B" and eastern side of the port (basin Nr. 2 - coastal berth). There are 14 berths in the port, apart from the 2 petroleum berths at La Teja, north of the bay. Except in the basin reserved for river craft, a safe draught in the port is 9,15m (30 ft). At 9,45 m (31 ft) draught, ships lie aground, the bottom being soft mud, as in all ports in the River Plate.
Muelle de escala: this berth, 288 m long, is orientated in a west to east direction at the head of the first quay (Muelle fluvial) that projects into the Anteport. It is reserved for full container ships. The depth alongside is 30 ft at datum. The quay is fitted with a container gantry crane, maximum height 25 m, 40 ton SWL, operational rate 20 TEUS per hour. On the western side of this quay there is a paved open storage area of 70.000 sqm for handling containers and heavy lifts (see photo below).
MONTEVIDEO Port. General view of containers terminal.
Port of Nueva Palmira
Lat 33º57'S Long 58º26'W - Nueva Palmira is situated at km 0 on the left bank of the River Uruguay 300 km northwest of Montevideo. It lies at the mouth of the River Uruguay and faces the mouth of the Parana Bravo River (the northern arm of the Parana, where it flows into the River Plate Estuary).
At Nueva Palmira there are two piers, one 240 mt. lenght pier owned by Navios Corp. where certain bulk cargoes ex barges from Brazilian, Bolivian and Paraguayan up-river ports are discharged. Maximum draft 32 ft in fresh water. For further information please visit www.naviosterminals.com.
In addition to the private trans-shipment terminal, stored and then loaded as exports on ocean going vessels, there is a state owned wharf known as the "Official Wharf". This is made of reinforced concrete 84 m length 22 m wide and joined to shore by a 240 m reinforced concrete causeway. In 1991 the quay was extended on northern side for a further 236 m reaching a total length of 320 m. The berth lies parallel to the current, depth alongside 32 ft at datum. A private cold store has been built by fruit shippers.
Both piers work around the clock (including Sundays and holidays).
Arrivals/departures drafts at Nueva Palmira via Martin Garcia channel is 32 ft at datum. A toll, similar to the Mitre channel will be charged.
NUEVA PALMIRA Port. Right: Commercial pier. Left: Navios Corp terminal. Both terminals have ample storage and handling capacity for bulk cargoes coming from the region. Rear: River Parana entrance, main gate of the waterway.
Port of Fray Bentos
Lat 33º06'S Long 58º19'W - Situated on the left bank of the Uruguay River, 213 n.miles by river from Montevideo and 145 n.miles from Buenos Aires. To arrive at Fray Bentos from the River Plate, ships normally proceed via the Martin Garcia channel. From km 0 of the Uruguay River there are four passes, Paso Marquez, Punta Caballo, Punta Amarilla and Paso Barrizal, with a depth of about 19 ft at datum. Both passes are of silt. A safe draught for navigational purposes is dependant on prevailing river water level and is usually around 21 ft. Pilots and Agents should be consulted beforehand in this respect.
At Fray Bentos, port facilities consist of an "L" shaped pier built of reinforced concrete offering two berths, together with a grain elevator, connected by conveyor belt to the first section of the pier. The first section of the pier is 200 m long (22m wide) fitted with railways lines and is equipped with an overhead grain conveyor belt which runs from the elevator situated at the head of the pier. This quay is also used for loading other cargoes than grains, nowadays principally citrus. Tugs are not used either for berthing or unberthing.
The second section of the quay lies at an obtuse angle to the first section and extends SW direction for 125 meters. This quay, also of reinforced concrete, is an open quay with two sets of railway lines. Depth alogside these berths is about 27 ft at datum.
FRAY BENTOS Port. For general cargo and grain terminal.
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