Data of the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP) showed that Ports of the North region of Brazil increased handling by 8.4% between January and October this year. According to the president of ATP, Admiral Murillo Barbosa, in Barra Norte do Rio, where there is an access to the sea, cargo handling has reached 38.8 million tons, considering long haul and cabotage. He pointed out that if Barra Norte were a port, it would be only behind the ports of Santos and Paranaguá. The ATP, the Brazilian Navy and other entities have been carrying out a project to expand the authorized draft for vessels transit in Barra Norte – mouth of the Amazonas River. At the beginning of the project, the maximum draft reached 11.5 meters, today it has already increased to 11.7 meters. Studies indicate that the draft can reach 11.9 meters, and further results can provide a draft of 12.5 meters. However, the Admiral said that the ideal draft would be 13.3 meters, making the access of Panamax type vessels available.
Source: Portos e Navios
*Translated by Ia Niani