PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Porto Alegre
Pilot
updated Nov 2023Compulsory and available during daylight hours only. Request for pilots should be sent, through the agents, 24 hours in advance. The Lagoa dos Patos pilot will board in position 32°03'S 052°03'W, off Rio Grande.
Pilots Tel: +55 51 3224 1982, Fax: +55 51 3286 8250. Email: [email protected].
Key data
updated Nov 2023Size limits
LOA 199.99m, beam 32.26m, draught 5.18m, 64,247DWT.
Water density
1000.
Load line zone
Summer.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navegantes Terminal | — | 200 m | 5 |
| Serra Morena Terminal | 5.18 m | — | 1 |
| Tergasul - Terminal da Petrobras | 5.18 m | 124 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Nov 2023Approach
Approach and entry: The port is approached from Lagoa dos Patos, and entered through a marked channel leading along the course of Rio Guaiba.
The entrance to Lagoa dos Patos is via the Feitoria Channel which is approx 40nm in length. From Feitoria Channel the lagoon section is approx 90nm leading to the Itapua Channel which extends approx 30nm to Porto Alegre.
Navigation through Feitoria and Itapua Channels is not undertaken at night due to inadequacies of the buoyage system.
Vessels proceeding to Porto Alegre must enter Feitoria Channel, reach Rio Grande and receive clearance before 1600hrs (1400hrs in winter) to arrive in the lagoon before nightfall. Speed is then adjusted to arrive at Itapua Channel at daybreak. Vessels sailing must adjust their departure times accordingly and may have to anchor in the lagoon to await daybreak before transiting the Freitoria Channel.
Max speed in the channels is approx 10kts.
Anchorages
An anchorage is established off the wharf at Porto Alegre. Use of this anchorage is compulsory for vessels carrying dangerous cargo and requiring inspection by the port authority, or for vessels awaiting opening of the Getulio Vargas Lifting Bridge. Such vessels are permitted to anchor for a max of 6 hours; other vessels may also use the anchorage for a max of 12 hours. In all cases permission must be obtained from the Porto Alegre Port Authority.
Compulsory anchorage lying beneath overhead power cables close SE of the entrance to Canal Santa Clara. For use by vessels over 150m in length carrying dangerous cargoes, with permission from the Porto Alegre Port Authority.
Restrictions
The official draught for vessels proceeding to Porto Alegre is 5.18m fresh water in summer. In certain conditions, winds may drop the level in Lagoa dos Patos, especially during summer, when draught may be reduced to 5.03m.
Maximum LOA and beam for entering the port is 235m and 35m respectively. For vessels over these dimensions it is necessary to obtain Pilot's association and port authority agreement, prior to fixing a vessel.
Tugs
Compulsory for all vessels berthing or unberthing at any berth. There are four small tugs, privately owned, of 200hp, 250hp, 280hp and 320hp and one larger tug owned by the port administration of 1,680hp and 6x1400hp.
Charts and publications
BA 581, 582, 3983. Brazilian charts 2109, 2111, 2140, Admiralty Pilot NP5, NP286(7).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010Communications
VHF: Radio Porto Alegre frequencies are: Ch 23, 24, 25 and 16.
Pilots & Port: Ch 16, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 71, 74.
Documents
Plus all documents advised by Rio Grande port authorities, which are always handed over to master on vessel's passage past Rio Grande.
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
All vessels, while in Brazilian ports, must fly the Brazilian national flag from 0800hrs to sunset.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated May 2018Repairs
Minor and medium repairs can be performed by the workshops at Porto Alegre.
Dry docks
A drydock is available for small vessels only.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at all berths, from hydrants at the average pumping rate of 8tph.
Bunkering: Usually made in Rio Grande, where all facilities are available; however, diesel oil can be supplied at Porto Alegre by road tanker.
Medical
Porto Alegre General Hospital, 3.7km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Salgado Filho International Airport located at Porto Alegre, 4km.
Nearest railway: America Latina Logistica, 3km.
Highway: BR-101, BT-116, BR-208, BR-290, BR-386, BR-448.
Working hours
Normally 0730-1130hrs and 1300-1700hrs with extension 1700-1900hrs. Night shift 1900-0100hrs.
The above working hours are valid from Mon to Sat inclusive. All other hours are worked as overtime.
Vessels loading at grain terminals can work throughout 24 hours.
About Porto Alegre
updated Nov 2023Where it is
Porto Alegre is situated at the northern end of Lagoa dos Patos. The port is on the E bank of the Guaiba River which flows into Lagoa dos Patos.
The port
Lagoa dos Patos is a large lagoon separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow spit of land. The port is approx 160nm NNE of the entrance to the lagoon which is close to Rio Grande; handles general cargo, dry bulk, liquid cargo and LPG.
Traffic
Approx 1,100,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Porto Alegre
What are the pilot arrangements at Porto Alegre?
Compulsory and available during daylight hours only.
What time zone is Porto Alegre in?
Local time at Porto Alegre is UTC−3. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Porto Alegre?
The deepest berth listed is at Serra Morena Terminal: 5.18 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Porto Alegre?
1000.
Which load line zone is Porto Alegre in?
Summer.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Porto Alegre?
The UN/LOCODE of Porto Alegre is BRPOA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Porto Alegre 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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A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.