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Location Lat.
01° 27' 36" S The Porto Trombetas Bauxite Terminal is situated on the right bank of Trombetas River, State of Para, north region of Brazil. The Trombetas River is a tributary on the left bank of the Amazon River; the terminal is located 60 nautical miles from the confluence. The access is by the Amazon River fairway. Vessels should enter via the North Bar of the river - Barra Norte - (Lightfloat Amazon Nº 1) ? the shortest and safest route to Porto Trombetas, which is approximately 575 n.m. From Macapá to Porto Trombetas the distance is about 460 n.m. Porto Trombetas lies 44 n.m. from Oriximiná, the nearest town on Trombetas River and 135 n.m. from Santarém, the nearest important city in Amazon River. The port is connected by regular flights to Manaus, Santarém and Belém.
The entire fairway, from Barra Norte to Porto Trombetas, is chartered and has aids to navigation. Notices to Mariners provide up to date information to nautical charts and buoyage. Pilotage is compulsory from Macapá (Fazendinha) to Porto Trombetas, with two pilots on board. Pilotage for North Bar is at Masters discretion and can be arranged by maritime agencies at a high cost and a great deviation of route to pick-up pilots at Salinópolis. However, ships have been navigating on this section of the river without pilots since 1958.
Due to
restrictions for navigation on Trombetas River bends, the vessels
are limited for Panamax Size up to 260 meters LOA.
For the
Amazon River Barra Norte: For Trombetas
River: During the Trombetas River dry season (September / December), eventually the draft may be reduced according to the level of the river. Those level and draft are controlled by MRN and divulgated daily.
The Amazon Region is situated within the Intertropical Convergent Zone (ITCZ), with high temperatures and humidity. In Porto Trombetas the mean temperature varies from 23° to 33°C; during the day can reach 40°C. During the rainy season (January/June) precipitation is usually heavy but of short duration. The winds are predominantly calm but can blow from NE to SW at about 10 knots during showers. From July to December the winds are predominantly E to ESE, and range from calm to moderate with occasional strong gusts. River fog is rare in the Amazon River but sometimes occurs in Trombetas River, particularly early in the morning and evening, during the dry season. Visibility in both the Amazon and Trombetas rivers can be reduced due to smoke during the burning season, between July and November.
Discharging saltwater ballast into Trombetas River is prohibited. Saltwater ballast may only be discharged into the Amazon River between Barra Norte and Almeirim Island. Brazil is signatory of the International Convention MARPOL 73/78 and the new legislation for environment protection categorically prohibits the discharge of any kind of material other than clean water ballast. Transgression will be punished severely".
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Shipchandlers and Laundry are unavailable.
All ships are attended by Vale do Rio Doce Navegação S.A. ? DOCENAVE ? through its regional office at Porto Trombetas. There are also sub?agents in Belém and Macapá (Fazendinha) through Arens Langen Agências Marítimas
Loading Terminal The bauxite loading terminal is designed to load ore vessels up to 260 meters LOA and 40 meters Beam. Usually the terminal operates with Panamax Size; larger bulk ore vessel can be accepted by consulting MRN. The pier is a steel structure 100 meters long, supported by steel piles and four concrete dolphins, for mooring purposes. The pier is equipped with an automatic traveling shiploader with a boom, which moves both vertically and horizontally. The shiploader boom moves horizontally about its pivot to a maximum angle of 52°24'44" to each side. The air draft (distance from the waterline to the top of the hatch coaming) is 13,5 meters minimum with flood level (July) and about 19 meters maximum with dry level (December). The loading rate may reach over 50.000 ton/day (considering the "berthed time"only).
Only one vessel can be berthed at the loading terminal at a time. Two waiting vessels can be accommodated at lay?by moorings buoys at 1,0/1,8 n.m. downstream from the berth. A secondary waiting area is located in the Amazon River, near its right (south) bank at the mouth of the Trombetas River, for anchoring with good holding ground and depth. For loaded ships under repair or waiting for the weather to improve a special anchorage area 1,3 n.m. upstream from the terminal is available for a short stay period. Anchoring in the Trombetas River is prohibited, except in emergency and in accordance with the Port Authority Regulations.
The transit of all bauxite vessels in the Trombetas River is under the control of MRN as Port Authority. Up?bound vessels must obtain clearance from MRN before proceeding into the river in order to avoid close quarter situations with down?bound loaded vessels in restricted areas and also to avoid congestion at the pier vicinities. Clearance can be obtained by contacting MRN or Docenave Agency on VHF ? channel 16 or 12. The vessel's pilots will provide language assistance if required. Vessels that do not have clearance to proceed must anchor at the secondary waiting area in the Amazon River It is
recommended that the speed for transit does not exceed 12 knots and
must be reduced to (see nautical charts of Trombetas River): The passing of up-bound and down-bound vessels is only allowed from the mouth to buoy 8 and from Jacitara Island to Cuminã River.
Vessels may berth either port or starboard side, although portside is the usual. Berthing is permitted 24 hours per day ? tug assistance is compulsory ? any time day or night (shinc). The mooring system consists of eight (four pairs) bollards on pier and four mooring buoys. It is strongly recommended that vessels do not use wire ropes for berthing. To avoid
risks of collision with the terminal equipment, MRN has developed,
in accordance with the Pilots Association, some standard berthing
procedures which determine the approach to the wharf at "very
low speed", and the suspension of the berthing maneuver if the
ship is not well positioned (nearly parallel to the wharf) before
berthing. Maneuvers
in the terminal area are not permitted with winds blowing more than
15 knots or visibility below 500 meters. Tug and Line? Handling Boats There are two 26 ton bollard pull tugboat and two line handling boats available for berthing/unberthing maneuvers. Tug assistance is compulsory for all vessel movements in the terminal area
The wharf is protected by permanent fenders. Gangway Transit from vessel to berth (and vice versa) is prohibited. Access to shore is by the vessels gangway and launches which are arranged for by Docenave Agency. The launch can be contacted on VHF channel 16 and the Loading Terminal can be contacted on VHF channel 14. Loading Hours 24 hours a day, Sundays and Holidays included.
There are no cleaning crews available. Holds must be cleaned prior to arrival. Vessels failing on inspection will not be accepted and may be requested to proceed to a lay?by anchoring area at Owners expense until suitably cleaned. It is not permitted to discharge any cleaning residue overboard.
The bauxite is transferred from the stockpile to the vessels holds through a conveyor belt system and an automatic shiploader. The loading operation will start when the vessel has been cleared by the authorities, is ready to load in all aspects and the light displacement survey has been completed by an attending ships officer and an MRN supervisor. The cargo weight for Bill of Lading purposes is calculated by the "Ship's Displacement" method, i.e. light vs. loaded draft surveys. The Load Parameters are: - Stowage
Factor for bauxite is 0,7079 m³ (25 cu. ft.) up to 0,7929 m³
(28 cu. ft.) per ton, depending on moisture content; It is the responsibility of the ships personnel to maintain the correct trim for the vessel and ensure that the agreed sailing draft is not exceeded. The cargo is only spout trimmed by the shiploader. An intermediate draft survey will be made when approximately 85% of the cargo has been loaded. At this time MRN and ship officers will agree as to the remaining quantity to load and the holds to be used to trim. At the end of the loading operation, approximately 275 tons of bauxite remain on the conveyor belt system. This tonnage must be discharged into the holds to complete the loading. MRN reserves the right to require any vessel to unberth after completing the loading operation, in order to allow another vessel to berth or for any other reason.
No facilities are available at the terminal to receive slops, salt water or contaminated ballast. Discharge of any material other than clean fresh water ballast is subject to heavy penalties, as prescribed by the Brazilian Law. It is prohibited to discharge salt-water ballast into the Trombetas River. The change of salt water to fresh water ballast must be done during the transit in Amazon River (see item 1.6 and Appendix 1).
The calculation of demurrage and dispatch is determined by the specific contract between buyers and MRN.
Bunkers
? are not available. COMMUNICATIONS
Vessels proceeding from the sea inbound to Porto Trombetas shall send ETA Barra Norte Lightfloat ? AMAZONAS Nº 1 (AM?1) ? to ARENS LANGEN - Macapá 72 (seventy two) hours prior to arrival to ensure that the Agents have sufficient time to arrange documentation (see item 4) and to coordinate the Pilots conveyance to the Fazendinha Anchorage Area. It is also costumary to give Porto Trombetas ETA to MRN Port Manager. For radio contact with Brazilian Coastal Station "BELEM RADIO", call PPL at any time on the following watch frequencies: a) CW
- 4148,5 / 8369 / 12553,5 / 16738 kHz Contact with ARENS LANGEN (AQUASHIP) Macapá and DOCENAVE Trombetas can also be made by telex, telefax, telephone or E-mail via Inmarsat (see item 7).
During the transit to Fazendinha (Macapá), vessels will receive from ARENS LANGEN - Macapá all information needed, including the alterations in force concerning the aids to navigation and any shallow water patches, which have been reported. When passing Macapá, vessels must contact ARENS LANGEN or MACAPÁ RADIO through VHF channel 16 to receive all instructions about anchorage and boarding times for authorities visitation and pilots embarkation. When leaving Fazendinha vessels must inform ARENS LANGEN Macapá and DOCENAVE Trombetas their ETA to Tombetas River mouth. Before entering the Trombetas River, Master must obtain the "Confirmation for Entrance" from MRN or from DOCENAVE Trombetas, through VHF channel 16, or SANTAREM RÁDIO or by telephone INMARSAT. The Pilot on duty can help if necessary.
When leaving Porto Trombetas, vessels have to send their ETA Fazendinha Anchorage Area to ARENS LANGEN Macapá for the agent to arrange disembarkation of Pilots. PROCEDURES / DOCUMENTATION
When at anchorage at Fazendinha, Port Authorities will board the vessel for routine inspection and clearance. The following documents should be prepared by the Master for delivery to the Agent and Port Authorities: Maritime
Health Declaration 1 copy General Declaration Form (to be filled up during clearance) that the Agent will present to the Master. The inspections of Port Authorities at Fazendinha (Immigration and Health) are held between 07:00 and 23:00 hrs Local Time. Customs inspection is made at Porto Trombetas. After Immigration and Health inspections and the granting of "free pratique", the Agent will give to the Master the Fazendinha Clearance Documentation to be given to the Porto Trombetas Authorities. Remarks: a) Brazilian Federal Police ? Immigration Department Laws demand. "All Officers and Crew members on board or arriving in Brazil to join a vessel, must possess a valid Seaman's Book and their Passport must state their profession as ship Officer or Seaman. Accompanying wives and family members must not be entered on Crew List as Stewardess or Supernumerary if they do not possess a valid Seaman's Book. They must be entered on a Passenger List and they must have a Brazilian Entry Visa in their passport if their nationality so requires." b) For vessels sailing to USA or US Virgin Island after loading at Porto Trombetas and requiring Crew List visaed by United States Embassy, Masters must hand, on arrival, two duly completed crew list (photocopy not accepted) to the agent in Fazendinha Anchorage. Agent cannot guarantee that these lists will be visaed and forwarded to the next port of call before arrival of the vessel, since this process take approximately 15 days.
a) In addition to giving the "Fazendinha Clearance Documentation" to the agent the following documents should also be handed to him: Crew
List 2 copies At hand to show: Ship's Data (date and time that vessel): - sailed
from last port, Fuel,
Diesel MDO and FW quantities on arrival; c) Cargo papers to be received by Master: - Notice
of Readiness; d) The ship's Agent will prepare and give to the Master the Port Clearance papers and Cargo Manifest. It usually takes about 1,5 hours after the completion of loading to deliver these documents. The vessel will be permitted to remain alongside if there is no other vessel waiting to load, otherwise the vessel will be asked to go to the anchorage area to wait. e) The envelope of Cargo Documents from Porto Trombetas will be delivered to ARENS LANGEN - Macapá, together with a Sailing Information Form that was previously received at Fazendinha inbound. NAVIGATION
Navigation in the Amazon and Trombetas Rivers requires caution and attention at all times. GPS, Radar and Echo?sounder in good conditions and appropriate nautical charts and tide tables are indispensable to safety navigation in this area. Pilotage is compulsory from Macapá to Porto Trombetas and return, with two pilots onboard. The pilots stay on board all the time. Brazilian law requires that the Pilots be granted the same status and respect as the ships own officers, including suitable accommodation and meals. The maximum draft for Barra Norte and Amazon River is 11,58 meters (38') fresh water at high tide and 8,53 meters (28') fresh water at low tide. During the day the coastal region of the Barra Norte may be obscured by mist or haze, making it difficult to take visual bearings. At night, especially in the early evening and at dawn, the radiobeacon signal beams may present deviation sometimes up to 10°. Night transit on the Barra Norte is at Masters discretion. While good anchoring conditions exist in the Amazon and Trombetas River, Masters should exercise caution when anchoring near the Barra Norte. Strong currents occur at most stages of the tide (up to 5 knots) and dragging of anchors is common.
The following Nautical Charts issued by the Hydrographic Office (Brazilian Navy), are used for navigation from the approach of Barra Norte, Amazonas River to Porto Trombetas (these charts are available through Belém or Macapá agencies): a)Approach to Barra Norte: 40 ?
From Oiapoque Bay to Parnaiba River b)From Barra Norte to Macapá (Fazendinha) 201 ?
Barra Norte, Amazonas River
- Sequential charts (front and back sheets) of Amazonas River, from Macapá to the confluence of Trombetas River: 4101
A/B
4401
A/B and The Brazilian Nautical Charts are normally updated before being delivered to a ship. Masters should ensure that their charts are kept up to date with all relevant information provided by Notices to Mariners. Alterations in soundings or to navigation aids are divulged by Radio Warnings to Mariners through Belem Radio ? PPL ?. By request, ARENS LANGEN Macapá will provide vessels proceeding to Amazon River, the list of buoyage position from the Lightfloat AM-1 to the end of Curua Channel, indicating any buoys reported unlit or missing, as well any shallow water which have been reported. To cross Barra Norte safely, Masters should ensure that they have the appropriate charts and tide tables and their navigational equipment is in proper working condition.
a)Tide Tides are expressive in the North Bar of the Amazon River and must be calculated according the information given in Brazilian Nautical Chart 210 and sailing Directions. The Brazilian Hydrographic Office publishes an annual Tide Tables for Brazilian ports, which includes tides for Ponta do Céu (the reference tide for Barra Norte) and Porto Santana (reference to Macapá/Fazendinha). The tides occur in the Amazon River until the confluence with Tapajos River (Santarem City). There
are no tides in the Trombetas River. The mean level amplitude of the
river is about 6,7 meters; the maximum flood occurs in May / June
and the minimum level in October / November. The tidal current in Barra Norte flows in the general direction of SW (flood tide) and NE (ebb tide) and runs with 3 knots (neap) to 5,5 knots (spring). About 3 hrs after high tide or low tide, the current flows in the directions of SE and NE respectively. In the Amazon River the current runs with 3 to 3,5 knots maximum. In the Trombetas River the current always runs downstream, with 0,5 knot in the dry season to 1,8 knots in the high water season, and reaches 2 knots from Oriximiná to the confluence.
Vessels
proceeding from sea should enter the fairway at 3 n.m. SE of Barra
Norte Lightfloat "AMAZONAS Nº 1" Characteristics and positions of all navigation aids are found in "Lista de Farois", annual publication by the Brazilian Hydrographic Office, available through the Agents. These aids are also listed in "List of Lights" of British Admiralty and U.S.A. HO. After
passing Curua Channel, vessel enters the North Channel of Amazon River
and then proceeds to Fazendinha Anchorage. When passing Macapá,
vessels must contact ARENS LANGEN (see item 3.2) and anchor to wait
for authorities visitation and pilots embarkation near the positions: From Macapá to Trombetas River This section of about 400 n.m. is navigable day and night and pilotage is compulsory. Hydrographic and topographic changes in the river occur continuously and may differ from what is indicated on the chart. Vessels normally reduce speed when passing Obidos and keep to the far bank. Sometimes, mainly from April to August, large logs / trees and other floating debris drifting down the Amazon River. A proper lookout for such debris should be maintained to prevent an accident. Before entering the Trombetas River, Masters must obtain authorization (see items 2.3 and 3.2). If, for whatever reason, permission is not granted, vessels must anchor in the Amazon River, near the confluence with the Trombetas River at the position (mud bottom) Lat. 01°54,5' S / Long. 55°36,0' W.
The Trombetas River has navigational aids providing safe navigation by day and night. Night navigation is allowed for vessels up to 245 meters LOA and is done with the two pilots on duty on the bridge and the engine at half speed, between Porto Trombetas and Bacabal Channel, both up and down?bound transit. Vessels
with LOA from 245 to 260 meters can only sail during daylight time.
The passing of up-bound and down-bound vessels is permitted at the Estirão do França, which is a wide and straight section of the river about 10 n.m. long. Vessels must reduce speed when passing in front of Oriximiná, to avoid damaging the many small boats and ferries moored alongside the city, caused by ship well. Anchoring is not permitted in Trombetas River, except in emergency. For vessels waiting for berth there are two mooring buoys about 1,0 and 1,8 n.m. downstream from the ore berth. Loaded ships under repair or waiting for the weather to improve, can anchor 1,0 n.m. upstream the ore berth. Discharge of saltwater, dirty or contaminated ballast, refuse, garbage and slops are prohibited and if discharged, the vessels/Masters will subject to heavy penalties/fines (See items 1.6, 2.11 and Appendix 1).
The above remarks and recommendations also apply from Porto Trombetas to Barra Norte and should be supplemented by the Ships Masters own observations up-bound sailing. When leaving Porto Trombetas at night, if the Master decides to wait for daylight, the shippers request a letter stating the reasons for this. In that case, the vessel must unberth and proceed to the waiting area if another vessel is waiting for load. It is strongly recommended that vessels proceed at half speed from Porto Trombetas to Bacabal Channel. When disembarking Pilots at Fazendinha, vessels must stop and lower their gangway on the leeward side. There is adequate water depth in the channel from Macapá to Ponta do Céu at all states of the tide; thereafter to the Lightfloat "AMAZONAS Nº 1" Masters must pay close attention to the exact time of highwater (hightide) on the Barra Norte (see item 5.4) to ensure a safe passage when drawing 11,58 meters (38') freshwater. MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITIES
In Macapá there are Health, Custom and Maritime Police Authorities, for inspection of the vessels. Contact with those authorities is made through the ARENS LANGEN Agency. ln Porto Trombetas there are also Custom and Maritime Police Authorities. MRN performs the attribution of Port Authority, controlling all ships transit in Trombetas River. For any information, vessels can call the Terminal by VHF channel 16 and 14. Information can be given by the Port Manager or the Sales Department of the MRN: a) Port
Manager - Mr. Ricardo S. Moreira - Phone 93-549-7029, ricardom@mrn.com.br
b) Sales
Department - Mr. João Paulo Franco - Phone 93-549.7438, vendas@mrn.com.br
Brazilian law and regulations contain several sanctions and penalties applicable to those who cause pollution of any kind. The principal are: -
Federal Law Nº 9.966 of 28/04/2.000
Notice
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Situation
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