Aratu

Size limits

LOA 229.11m, beam 40m, draught 14.8m, 84,861DWT.

Water density

1022.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Range 2.8m. Only tides with the characteristic of daily equality. During the springs the ebb flow can reach 2-3kts in a SSW'ly direction. During the ebb the flow of the tide will prejudice berthing port side to.

Dow Quimica Terminal: During springs the ebb flow can reach 2-3kts in a SSW direction. Flood is in a NNE'ly direction. During ebb tides vessels are berthed port side alongside.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

Access channel, min width 180m, length 3.7km, min depth 18m.

The channel leading from S to the entrance of Baia do Aratu and to Porto de Aratu and the fairway of Rio Cotegipe, is marked by 8 lightbuoys; 4 to starboard with red lights and 4 to port with white lights.

Dow Quimica Terminal, Ford Terminal and Grande Moinho Terminals: Access is gained through the Aratu port channel and Cotegipe Channel. The Cotegipe Channel is marked, with the narrowest part lying between Lage Point and Forte Point. The channel has a min depth of 16.0m.

Port limits

Includes the Bay of All Saints, limited to the S by parallel 12°50'S.

Traffic schemes and VTS

There is no VTS in operation. However, the pilot usually defines vessel traffic sequence.

Anchorages

Anchorage is permitted in the area of Monte Serrat.

Prohibited Anchorage: Anchorage is prohibited in the manoeuvring area and in the access channel.

Dow Quimica Terminal, Ford Terminal and Grande Moinho Terminals: There are no designated anchorages in the proximity of the terminals. Vessels may anchor in Todos and Santos Bay.

Restrictions

A dangerous wreck lies close off the Dow Chemical Terminal.

Dow Quimica Terminal: Berthing and unberthing during the night: Max LOA 150m, beam 25m, draught 8.5m. Vessels berthed starboard side alongside may be unberthed at night with max LOA 180m, beam 30m, draught 11.0m.

During daylight, manoeuvres with vessels up to LOA 185m may be made with the following conditions: Prior authorisation from the port captain; time of entry at pilot's criteria; compliance with special safety measures.

Tugs

During the arrival or departure of any vessel at the terminal, from Point Da Areia Lighthouse up to the terminal, or from the terminal to the lighthouse, a vessel must be accompanied by 2 tugs ready to receive towing ropes. The selection of the tugs should be made in accordance with the criteria established by the port captain.

Dow Quimica Terminal: During arrival or departure, of any vessel at the terminal, from the light at Ponta da Areia to the terminal or the terminal to the light, a vessel must be accompanied by 2 tugs ready to receive towing ropes. The selection of the tugs should be made in accordance with criteria established by the port captain.

Vessels of over 150m in length should employ at least one "E" class tug for berthing. Vessels over 30,000GT which do not have a bow thruster should employ 2 "E" class tugs.

Mooring

At the Liquid Bulk Terminal vessels over LOA 80m are required to use 3 tugs for berthing. Operations must be performed under favourable sea and weather conditions.

Conditions exist for berthing on high tide and at night.

Charts and publications

BA 545, 540, 3975. Brazilian 1101, 1102. Admiralty Pilot NP5, NP286(7).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessel's ETA should be sent 72, 48 and 24 hours before arrival and confirmed 12 hours prior to arrival at Salvador.

All Dow's chartered vessels should send their first ETA message to Dow as well as to the agent 72 hours prior to arrival.

Communications

VHF: Harbour Master: Ch 16, throughout 24 hours.

The pilot station in Salvador port and the terminal offices are equipped with VHF radio and monitor Ch 16, throughout 24 hours.

Notice of readiness

The NOR is tendered to the charterer as per Charter Party.

Documents

Port without paper programme: The Brazilian Federal Ports Bureau's Porto Sem Papel - PSP (Port Without Paper) programme was implemented at Santos Port in 2011. Initially, this will work alongside the old paper system. Several ports are now using PSP, including Aratu. It is planned to introduce this system to 34 public ports of Brazil. See Country Section for additional information.

Note: All documents must be original not copies.

Customs and immigration

Contraband: Brazilian laws are very strict with respect to smuggling and masters are requested to instruct their crews not to take more than 2 packets of cigarettes and other articles ashore. Cigarettes in cartons, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, souvenirs, explosives, firearms, etc should be collected prior to arrival in port and listed with the items in the Crew's Personal Effects List and placed in the custody of the master.

Immigration: All a vessel's passengers and/or crew members may only enter the national territory after their documents have been inspected by the federal police department, the revenue authorities and the port health authorities.

Vessels owners are responsible for the disembarkation and the embarkation of transit passengers as well as crew members who fail to join a vessel before it sails. Such responsibility includes the maintenance and other expenses until repatriation. In the event of non existence of a compulsory deposit as guarantee to cover such expenses, owners will sign, at the federal police department, a form of responsibility inherent to such obligations as therein expressed.

Flags

The Brazilian, customs and health flags are required during vessels stay in the port.

Notices and regulations

Low draught vessels may transit the channel N of the Santo Antonio Bank. Maximum caution must be observed however since there are strong currents, the transit of vessels with low powered engines, is not recommended. Vessels with a deeper draught should pass to the S of the bank.

Vessels should not arrive or depart from the terminal trimmed by the head as this makes manoeuvring more difficult in the narrowest part of the channel.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Comissao Nacional de Seguranca Publica nos Portos, Terminais e Vias Navegaveis - CONPORTOS.

Contact person: Ezio Borghetti.

Position: Secretario Executivo.

Address: Esplenada dos Ministerios, Bloco T, 5 andar - Ministerio da Justica, DF, 70064-900, Brasilia, Brazil.

Tel: +55 61 429 3173.

Fax: +55 61 429 9169.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.mj.gov.br

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Available.

Dry docks

The Brazilian Navy operates a drydock which can be made available for use. Dimensions: 220m in length, 30m wide, depth 6.5m and max vessel size 35,000DWT.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: Available, loading restrictions by port authorities for liquid bulk and gas vessels during cargo operations.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Hospital Geral Roberto Santos (40km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Dois de Julho Airport, Salvador (43km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours in four shifts: 0700 to 1300hrs, 1300 to 1900hrs, 1900 to 0100hrs, 0100 to 0700hrs.

Where it is

The port of Aratu is located on the E side of All Saints Bay on the Caboto estuary, approx 40km from Salvador.

Dow Quimica Terminal, Ford Terminal and Grande Moinho Terminals are situated in the Cotegipe Channel between Matanga Point and Lage Point.

The port

Berthing facilities at the port consist of four piers belonging to three specialised terminals in moving dry bulk, liquid and gaseous cargoes. There are also private terminals operated by Ford, Grande Moinho Terminals and Dow Quimica SA, used for the loading and unloading of chemical products such as caustic soda and liquid propane oxide, glycols, perchlorethylene and crude TET via flexible hoses.

Traffic

Approximately 7,000,000t of cargo and 660 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Aratu?

Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels, request for pilot is required by VHF 2 hours prior to arrival.

What time zone is Aratu in?

Local time at Aratu is UTC−3. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Aratu?

The deepest berth listed is at Terminal de Produtos Gasosos (TPG): 14.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Aratu?

1022.

Which load line zone is Aratu in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Aratu?

The UN/LOCODE of Aratu is BRARB.

What crews who called at Aratu say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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