Navy authorises trials of vessels sailing from Amazon’s North Bar with increased draft

The Commander of the 4^th Naval District (4DN) issued Ordinance 122/2020 authorising, on a precarious and experimental basis, vessels sailing from the North Bar of the Amazon River via the Grande do Curua Channel and trough the so-called “Muddy Arc”, with a maximum operational draft of 11.90 metres. Until then, the prevailing draft in the region was limited to 11.70 m.

The temporary permission is effective from 30 March 2020 and does not apply for tankers and vessels carrying dangerous goods.

Vessels sailing down the Amazon River’s North Bar with a draft between 11.70 m and 11.90 m must observe the following restrictions and guidelines:

• Report to the 4DN the intention to sail with experimental draft 24 hours in advance
• Consider the tide prevailing at the time of departure observing a minimum under keel clearance (UKC) of 0.50 m, mindful of the characteristics of each vessel
• Observe the height of tide prevailing at the Muddy Arc, which must be equal or higher than 3.10 m, according to the tide table of the Navy Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation (DHN), to sail in the high tide in the area within specific coordinates (Point 1: Lat 01° 39’ N – Lon 049° 01’ W; Point 2: Lat 01° 29’ N – Lon 048° 52’ W; Point 3: Lat 01° 20’ N – Lon 049° 37’ W; and Point 4: Lat 01° 11’ N – Lon 049° 28’ W
• It is forbidden to wait at anchor for a sailing tide window within the above-mentioned geographic points
• Keep adequate speed to minimise squatting
• Observe full compliance with the draft limitations established
• Vessels sailing with a draft from 11.50 m must compulsorily take a pilot
• To pass through the Muddy Arc (a stretch of seabed composed of fluid mud which is some 146 nautical miles away from Macapa) the vessels must be loaded to a draft of 11.70 m plus 0.20 m of ballast water
• The coordinating pilot station must assign a pilot with at least 3 (three) years of experience with navigation in the area
• All the trial sailings must have at least one representative of the Maritime Authority on board
• On completion of each trail sailing, the pilot must issue a conclusive standard report on the manoeuvre, within 10 (ten) days, with minimum required information
• After 10 (ten) days of trials with vessels sailing with 11.90 m trough the Muddy Arc and analysis of the reports from the pilots, the Navy Command the command will assess, within 30 (thirty) days, the feasibility of increasing the draft permanently

According to studies by grain traders and the local pilot association, an increase of 20 centimetres in the draft of a Panamax vessel means around 1,800 metric tons more of cargo on board.

Northern Arc’s river ports that will benefit from the potential draft increase include Manaus, Itacoatiara, Santarem, Trombetas, Juruti and Santana (Macapá). The main commodities shipped at these ports are grains (soya bean and corn) and mineral products (bauxite, iron ore and manganese).

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