River Plate News

Gustavo Alcides Diaz, an Argentine fisherman and hunter from a river island community, is at home on the water. The Parana River once lapped the banks near his wooden stilt home that he could reach by boat. Fish gave him food and income. He purified river water to drink.Now the 40-year-old looks out on a trickle of muddy water.The Parana, South America's second-largest river behind only the Amazon, has retreated this year to its lowest level since its record low in 1944, hit by cyclical droughts and dwindling rainfall upriver in Brazil.

Grains ships and vessels transporting other products on the Paraguay River are loading at around half capacity due to a historic drought that has hit river levels in the South American region, hurting trade of key agricultural commodities.Industry insiders said that many cargo holds on ships were being left empty, travel times were being delayed and farmers in the world's fourth-largest exporter of soybeans were having to hold on longer to grains that they couldn't ship."The situation is critical and delicate…

One of South America’s leading push boat operators is on its way to completing a fleet-wide retrofit to Thordon’s water lubricated tailshaft and rudder bearings.In 2014, Argentinian owner Atria Logistics UABL, which operates a fleet of workboats on the Paraná River, installed Thordon’s RiverTough tailshaft bearings to its first push boat, the 135-foot-long Concepcion. In 2020, six more vessels in the company’s 26-strong fleet were converted.Egnard Bernal, Thordon Bearing’s Business Development Manager…

French container transportation and shipping company CMA CGM announced the reorganization of its SIRIUS service connecting the Mediterranean with the East Coast of South America, effective March 2020.The new rotation will concentrate on our hub ports of Algeciras and Tangiers from where connections to and from Mediterranean ports will be made with our extensive inhouse mother & feedering network.The weekly service will be maintained with 6 vessels (of which 2 operated by CMA CGM) instead of the current 7 and Mediterranean ports are served in relay with connecting services retaining competitive transit times. SIRIUS new features include…

Australian shipbuilder Incat said it has secured a contract to build the world’s largest aluminium ship.Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd will build the 130 meter long ship for long standing customer, Buquebus to operate between Argentina and Uruguay.The completed vessel will be the largest aluminium ferry ever built and the ninth vessel for Incat’s valued South American customer.The 130-meter ferry will join the other Incat ships already serving various ports on the River Plate (Rio Plato) between Argentina and Uruguay.At a probable 13…

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising of a change to under keel clearance (UKC) rules on Parana River and River Plate in Argentina. From November 25, 2016, the Coast Guard has advised that an under keel clearance (UKC) will be applied for vessels which transit Parana River and River Plate with a fresh water draft above 10.36 meters(m). The new restrictions will aid safe navigation. 1. Draft between 10.37m to 10.49m, 3 centimeters for each centimeters of draft above 10.36m in addition to the compulsory UKC of 0.60m. 2. Draft above 10.50m, UKC will be 10% of the static draft. E.g for a ship with a draft of 10.50 m, total UKC will be 1.05m. 1. Draft between 10.37m to 10.67m, 1.5 centimetres for each centimeter of draft above 10.36m in addition to the compulsory UKC of 0.60m.

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) announced the opening of a new joint-venture agency in Uruguay and participation in this year’s Intermodal South America exhibition, opening today in São Paulo and running until 7th April. These initiatives are part of the carrier’s ambitious growth plans and customer-focused strategy, and highlight the importance of the South American market for UASC. Following several initiatives including significant investment in new reefer units and a cooperation agreement with Hamburg Süd opening up new services to East Coast South America, UASC aims to highlight its expanded service during Intermodal South America 2016, the international exhibition for logistics, cargo transportation and international trade.

River levels in Argentina are currently decreasing and they are expected to continue over the coming week. The bottleneck remains in the River Plate access channel, where the maximum recommended sailing draft us 10.51 metres fw. Shippers are advised to check river levels and weather conditions before fixing and loading cargo to ensure that they sail with the maximum cargo/achievable draft. (For details of current drafts at the country's port and information about operations in Argentina, and elsewhere in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected]) Source: AMI Argentina – GAC agent

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), a leading container shipping line and emerging global carrier, has today appointed The Ultramar Group as its local liner shipping agency partner in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. This appointment is the latest milestone in UASC’s expanding presence in South America and will be instrumental to UASC’s growth plans. Ultramar has a long-standing, successful history in South America providing agency, ports and logistics services in 16 countries and covering all the main ports. UASC’s decision to select Ultramar as its local agency partner in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay marks a significant expansion in the relationship between the two companies.

The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has issued the following general advice related to the outbreak of Ebola. Vessels that have recently called in an affected country should contact their local agents prior to arrival at the next ports of call for the latest country specific advice regarding measures taken to avoid the spread of Ebola. ARGENTINA: Pilot companies rendering pilotage services in the River Plate have decided that their pilots will not board any vessel coming from the infected areas (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) until thirty days since the vessel sailed from last port of the infected areas. BENIN (Port of Cotonou): Vessels must notify the harbour master of the 10 previous ports of call 3 days before ETA.

Kelvin Hughes, a designer and supplier of navigation and surveillance systems, announced that its SharpEye radar is now in continuous use on the world’s fastest ferry, operating between Argentina and Uruguay. Launched in Oct 2013 by the President of Argentina, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, and operated by Buquebus of Uruguay, the ferry, named Francisco after the Argentinian-born Pope Francis, carries up to 1024 passengers and crew together with 150 cars on a daily basis between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

A ferry operator’s experience of ‘the fastest ship in the world’ will feature among the cutting-edge initiatives being aired at Interferry’s 38th annual conference in Malta from October 5-9. The trade association event gives South American operator Buquebus a first opportunity to showcase the commercial and technical benefits of its revolutionary newbuild Francisco. Delivered in August from Australian builder Incat Tasmania, the catamaran is the world’s first high speed dual fuel ro-ro to use LNG as its primary fuel. Incat made the “fastest ship” claim after sea trials in June.

Wärtsilä's axial waterjets power the Francisco, claimed to be the world's fastest high-speed ferry and the first fast ferry to utilize liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. The vessel has successfully passed its sea trials and is now ready to commence commercial operations. Wärtsilä has provided the waterjets for what is claimed to be the world's fastest high speed ferry. In addition to two of its LJX1720SR axial waterjets, Wärtsilä has also supplied an advanced propulsion control system for the Francisco.

Incat Tasmania’s dual-fuel vehicle & passenger ferry 'Francisco' has attained 58.1 knots operating on LNG fuel only. Francisco has been constructed for South American company Buquebus, for service on the River Plate, between Buenos Aires Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. With water ballast removed, and with both Port and Starboard Gas Turbines operating on LNG; Francisco achieved 58.1 knots at 100% Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR), which the Australian builders take to be a world record…

The panamax market may see a boost from increased activity in the Atlantic and more business coming from South America, brokers said on Wednesday. Prospects for the market in the short term looked positive, despite a slow pace in freight rates, they also said. Modern panamaxes booked for delivery in the Atlantic in May, followed by a voyage to South America could fetch up to $11,500 a day or even more after negotiations. Older vessels attracted lower rates, brokers said, giving as prime example the 1982-built 60,158 dwt Amolyntos chartered - for prompt delivery Boston for a voyage to South America, followed by redelivery Far East - at a daily rate of $8,700.

Panamax fixtures for end-March loading dates supported forecasts that Atlantic rates are set to move higher, shipbrokers said. But although the Capesize move to higher ground removed resistance against a prolonged Panamax uptrend, spreading foot- and-mouth disease is threatening to dampen dry bulk spring bullishness, they added. They said that reports that the disease in Britain and France may affect European grain exports was disturbing. However on Thursday Tunisia and Morocco, two major importers, contradicted earlier statements and said they were not banning grain imports from Europe due to concern over foot-and-mouth infection. Panamax fixtures suggest a confident market, shipbrokers said.

The dry cargo freight market was enlivened by a higher degree of Panamax activity in most areas, while Capesize conditions remained subdued with little fresh business quoted and few fixtures reported, brokers said. On May 9, the Baltic Dry Index gained 2 points from the day before to 1,609, the Baltic Panamax Index rose 11 to 1,512 and the Baltic Handy Index gained one to 1,153, while the Baltic Capesize Index fell six to 2,171. In the grain sector, higher rates were fixed from the Atlantic to the Far East, brokers said. Although brokers were disappointed at the level obtained by the 1999-built Red Cherry 73,350 dwt from Hanjin delivery U.S. Gulf end May trip Far East at $11,200 daily plus a $230,000 ballast bonus, other fixtures were concluded at more generous levels.

In view of continuous challenging trading conditions effective from July 2013 CMA CGM, Maersk Line, Hamburg Süd, CSAV, China Shipping Container Lines and Hanjin will restructure their services between the Far East and South America East Coast by launching three new joint services. -ASAS 2/NGX 2/SEAS 2/ASAX 2: Currently operated by Maersk Line, Hamburg Süd, CSAV, CMA CGM and China Shipping Container Lines. -SEAS 1/ASAX 1: Currently operated by CSAV, CMA CGM and China Shipping Container Lines. -ASAS 1/NGX 1: Currently operated by Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd.

Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the name of the customer for their world first high speed passenger Ro-Ro ship powered by LNG (Liquified Natural Gas). The 99 metre LNG ship was contracted by South American company Buquebus in November 2010, however for commercial reasons Buquebus requested that identity be kept under wraps. They have now announced that they will operate the vessel on their River Plate service between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo in Uruguay.

Incat's dual fuel fast ferry has commenced sea trials in Hobart Tasmania. The 99-meter vessel's twin LNG tanks were loaded with LNG for the first time last week. Testing of the gas system went underway with the GE LM2500 gas turbine engines being run on gas for the first time on May 27 at the wharf and at sea on May 30. The gas trials are scheduled to continue. Lopez Mena (Incat hull 069) was sea trialed with ballast for a 1,460-ton displacement trial comfortably exceeding 50 knots at full power and maintaining a steady 49 knots at 90% power while operating on marine distillate.

Hamburg Süd will offer a new service from South Africa to Argentina and Brazil (SABR Service) in cooperation with Nile Dutch. The new fixed-day fortnightly service will provide shippers with a regular and reliable westbound link from South Africa to South America with connections to Europe and North America. The new service rotation will be: Durban – Port Elizabeth – Buenos Aires – Rio Grande – Itajai – Santos – Rio de Janeiro. Further destinations in South America, North America and Europe will be offered in transhipment. The first westbound call at Durban will be with Buxfavourite on July 21, 2013. In the opposite direction to the…

Atlantic freight rates are climbing as charterers are finding it hard to attract panamax tonnage on a spot basis, brokers said on Monday. The respite for owners could be short-lived, however, as some in the market believe the upturn in freight rates may not last. "For September there are still plenty of ships in the Atlantic," said one broker. In the meantime, fixtures are still slowly improving for the Atlantic panamax market, with the upturn reflected by the latest charter for the U.S. Gulf to Japan panamax benchmark route. A panamax was reported chartered at $18.50 a ton of heavy grains with loading scheduled between September 16 and $0.30 a ton higher than recent voyage charters under similar terms.

Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd launch world’s first high speed passenger Ro-Ro ship powered by LNG (Liquified Natural Gas). The vessel will be the first installation of LNG powered dual fuel engines in an Incat high speed ferry, and the first high speed craft built under the HSC code to be powered by Gas Turbines using LNG as the primary fuel and marine distillate for standby and ancillary use. The new ship has been moored alongside the Incat shipyard wharf on Prince…