SPRB / SOCIEDAD PORTUARIA REGIONAL DE BARRANQUILLA S.A. 

This multipurpose ocean and river terminal located on the banks of the Magdalena River is used to handle all types of cargo such as coal, bulk solids and liquids, containers, coffee and general cargo.

* Port terminal located about 11 miles from magdalena river mouth
* Number of piers: this pier has about 1,058 meters long, where it can be accomodate between 6-7 vessels, depending on their loa.
* Max loa: this restriction has not been determined but it has been docked vessels with loa upto 216 meters long. All depends on draft restriction.
* Max beam: this restriction has not been determined and it depends on draft restriction.
* Max draft: this restriction is the same as the river mouth and navigational channel.
* Normal working hours: 24 hours shinc.

Replenishment of bunkers are usually carried out with trucks or barges, while the fresh water is supplied through pipe connections at the berth.

Also note, there are two shore cranes lieebher lhm-1300 with a max. Capacity 104 tons. Each, which can be used for loading/discharging heavy cargoes, containers, loose cargo and bulk cargoes, as well. The port has a grab for bulk cargoes with a capacity at about 22 tons and a hooper with a capacity at about 30 tons.

Fyg, this terminal has as a total 6 shore scales installed in different places for allowing the fast cargo dispatching. There is a project to install three additional scales. On the other hand, there are six warehouses arranged for handling bulk cargoes with a capacity between 4,000 mt and 7,000 mt each.

Please note, there exists a liquid bulk terminal inside the port premises managed by the public port administration and mssrs. Granelca “ graneles del caribe “, with the following particulars:

* Draft restriction: the same as the river mouth and navigational channel.
* Quantity store tanks: 3 with a capacity of 750 m3 each.
* Operational pier: it is the pier # 6 of the public port, where comes in a mobile pipeline from the store tanks with a lenght of about 150 mtrs.
* Hose connections: 1 x 6”/8”.
* Discharge rate: about 200 mt per hour agw/wp.
* Normal working hours: 24 hrs shinc.

Also note, this terminal get the iso 9000 certificate.

BARRANQUILLA PORT'S INFORMATION

OPERATIONAL GUIDE FOR VESSELS ARRIVING AT BARRANQUILLA

Location: LAT. 10 DEG. 58 MIN. N LONG. 74 DEG. 46 MIN. W.
Admiralty Chart: 2259
Time Zone: GMT – 5 hours
Current Draft: 29 FEET F.W. In the river mouth and the navigational channel (it can change suddenly due to constant river waterflow changes)
Windy Season: From early december to mid april; prevailing northeasterly winds.

Boarding Pilot

It is compulsory for all domestic/foreign flag vessels over 200 grt, to use pilot for entering/departing, as well as shifting between berths in the port.

Pilot boarding takes place 1.5 miles n.w. of breakwater. Vessel must arrange a pilot ladder 2 meters above water level on starboard side.

Tug Assistance

It is compulsory for all vessels over 2,000 dwt to have tug assistance for berthing, unberthing, anchoring, mooring to buoys and entrance/sailing maneuvers to dikes. Vessels over 150 meters loa, pilot may request a second tug.

Due to strong river current and wind conditions in certain periods of the year, port authority has determined that vessels fitted with bow thruster / controllable pitch propeller are still required to have tug assistance when maneuvering inside port premises.

For vessels below 2,000 dwt, tug assistance will be decided by master/attending pilot depending on weather conditions.

Berthing Side

Vessels must berth starboard side to at any of the berths in this port, due to port authority requirement. Vessels with loa less than 100 meters can dock portside to, with a previous authorization from harbour master and a letter of indemnity to the pilot company.

Documents To Be Presented To Local Authorities

Ship´s navigation registry
Radio station license
Load line certificate
Sanitary certificate cargo gear certificate (if vessel loading/discharging)
Radiotelegraph and radiotelephone certificate
Cargo ship safety equipment
International oil pollution policy (iopp)
Last port clearance
Manning license of crew members
Insurance certificate of entry of pandi club

In addition to above documents master should have ready to be handed to local authorities following documents

4 copies of cargo declaration
4 copies of store list
6 copies of crew list
4 copies of passenger list, if any
3 copies of crew effects
1 copy of maritime declaration of health

Failure to comply with above documents will result in ship´s delay in port until all documents presented to satisfaction, with consequential increase in port expenses.

Please confirm all these documents will be available on ships arrival.

Furthermore, it is necessary the following information required by the harbour master in order to accept the arrival of the vessel to colombian ports:

Class
Class number
Imo number
P & i club
Iopp expire date
Iopp number

ZONA FRANCA TERMINAL OF BARRANQUILLA

Located on the banks of the Magdalena River on the navigation channel, this terminal has a variable depth of 29 feet. Through this pier is carried out loading and unloading of chemicals and fuels.

Las Flores Anchorage Area

This area is usually used for anchoring the vessels awaiting berths either private piers as monomeros / cementos del caribe / colterminales or the public pier.
Also it is used for discharge operations of steel cargo, which are carried out by mssrs. Sidunor who is one of the most important steel cargo receivers in colombia. They import about 150,000 mt per year and are the only receiver with a concession granted by government for discharging their cargoes at this anchorage site. The draft is the most important restriction, which is currently at 28 feet f.w. vessel´s loa, beam, airdraft restrictions has not been determined. Watchmen service it is not compulsory but strongly recommended for avoiding robbers, stowaways and smuggling.

Mssrs. Sidunor has an estimated discharge rate at about 4,000 mt/day agw/wp and work 24 hrs shinc. They have their own river deck barges which are alongside the vessel. They take cargo from holds onto barges using ship´s cranes. Usually work with about 3 river deck barges with a capacity of about 400-600 mtons. These river barges are shifted from alongside to a private sidunor quay in the riverboard.

On the other hand, you can supply vessel with bunkers and fresh water at this anchorage site. Vessel can be also provided by shipchandlers there.

   
MONOMEROS PORT INFORMATION DRY BULK CARGO 

* Number of Piers: 2
* Max. Loa: this restriction has not been determined by the port but it has docked vessels up to 180 meters long at pier 1 and 150 meters long at pier 2, so far. They are using pier no. 2 for their loadings and small shipments.
* Max. Beam: not determined and depends on draft restriction.
* Vessels alongside by starboard side.
* Normal Working Hours: 24 hrs shinc.
* Disch. Rate for Dry Bulk Cargo: about 3,500 mt/day agw/wp. It varies depending on factos as kind of cargo, holds distribution, vessel´s cranes, among others.
* Draft Restriction: 29 feet f.w. with separting barges, but due to silting problems vessel should be fixed at 28 feet f.w.

Vessels coming in with an arrival draft more than 23 feet f.w., are docked to separting barges alongside pier and safely moored, in order to reach a deeper draft. Those separating barges are taken out immediately the vessel reachs about 23 feet f.w. for reberthing her and continue the discharge operations.

 - LIQUID BULK CARGO  
 

*Number of Piers: 1. It is the same pier 1 for dry bulk cargoes, where is alos installed the manifold for pumping this type of cargo.
* Hose Connections: 1 x 6”.
* Gangway Used: shore.
* Discharge Rate for Liquid Cargo: about 170 mt/hr agw/wp.
* Draft Restriction: 22 feet f.w. alongside.

 - MONOMEROS PIERS REGULATIONS 
 

* No disembarking will take place during the stay of a vessel at monomeros piers.
* Visitor will not be allowed to approach or board a vessel at monomeros pier. Any person who needs to board a vessel to carry out inspections or any other vessel related or crew related matters must first request written authorization from monomeros directly via the ship´s agency.
* All vessels must arrive with sufficient supplies and provisions to las during the stay at monomeros plus the duration of the return journey to the next port of call because any of those items will be allowed to be taken on board.
* To ensure the safety of vessels, crew and cargo, one watchman with a dog will be placed on board each vessel at the time of berthing, inspection by the police might take place to look for illegal substances or stowaways before the vessel sails.

CEMENTOS DEL CARIBE PORT INFORMATION 
 

* Max. Draft Alongside: 29 feet f.w.
* Max. Loa: this restriction has not been determined but the terminal is recommended to bring vessels up to 185 mtrs long
* Max. Beam: not determined but depends on draft restriction.
* Max. Airdraft: about 13 mtrs from water lebel to hatch top.
* Loading System/Rate for Bulk Cargo: about 6,000 mt/day agw/wp with ship´s cranes and about 12,000 mt/day agw/wp with conveyor belt.
* Loading System/Rate for Bagged Cement: about 1,500 mt/day agw/wp using ship´s cranes.
* Discharging System/Rate for Bulk Cargo: about 4,000 – 5,000 mt/day agw/wp.
* Normal Working Hours: 24 hrs shinc.
* Security Measurements: it is compulsory the watchmen service on board during vessel´s stay at the dock. This service is for vessel´s account. Also is not allowed the crew´s disembarking during vessel´s stay at port.

According to shippers, ths use of conveyor belt for loading coal operations depends on coal grade and some types of vessels that cann be loaded from the aft holds to fwd holds, as this conveyor is not mobile and they loose a lot of time during shifting maneuvers. Shippers estimate each shifting maneuver takes about 2 hours.

COLTERMINALES PORT INFORMATION 

* Max Draft: the same as the river mouth and navigational channel.
* Max Loa: not determined but have docked vessels with loa up to 190 meters long.
* Max Beam: not determined but depends on loa and draft restriction.
* Hose Connections: there are 5x 6” connections and 4 x 4” connections and 1x8” connection, as well. This terminal has connections to another private tanks for receivers, which require discharging cargo directly to their port premises. Shippers usually load from their private tanks connected to the colterminales pipelines for vessel’s loading operations.
* Shore Tanks Distance from Manifold: about 150 mtrs
* Elevation of Tanks: about 10 mtrs
* Storage Capacity: about 21332 m3.
* Gangway Used: shore.
* Normal Working Hours: 24 hours shinc.

Sometimes pilot may request a second tugboat for berthing/unberthing maneuvers for vessels with loa less than 150 meters as the current river is very strong in this area.

The replenishment of bunkers or fresh water are carried ot through barges, as the pier structure does not allow the supply with trucks directly. In case of bunkering the vessel via trucks they must use terminal lines for connecting with the vessel. Bunkering delivery by trucks or by barges thru the river has a surcharge by terminal, which is at usd 10.30 per m/t. Please confirm this extra cost with your broker prior fixing the bunkering. Please note ifo bunker is not able to supply thru pipelines but to barges only.

CARBOMILPA BERTH 
 

CURRENTLY IN PROJECT TO BE A COMMERCIAL PORT NAMED “SOCIEDAD PORTUARIA DEL NORTE”.

· GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. When bunkering in port a surveyor from harbor master´s office must be requested for potential contamination/oil spillage.

2. Master/engineer must be alert about posible accidental oily water spillage, as this is heavily penalized by port authorities.

3. No garbage should be disposed into the river.

4. Do not carry out any hull/deck work without previous authorization.

5. Should colombian flag be needed, please request in advance to be sent with boarding pilot.

6. Vessels arriving to anchorage to wait for berth or discharge at midstream, are strongly suggested to arrange armed watchmen during the night to avoid piracy onboard. This service may be arranged thru the agency in written.

7. In case of sludge disposal at barranquilla, this may be arranged thru agency prior vessels arrival in port.

8. Masters must be prepared for a potential visit without previous notice, of the state port control surveyor leading to inspect all marpol and ship´s safety equipment onboard. Should any of this equipment be found defective/expired/etc, the vessel will be held in port until situation is solved to surveyor´s satisfaction. For cases where some of the missing/deffective equipment/devices can not be procured locally and the safety of vessel/crew may be jeopardized, the vessel will be granted clearance only until next port where the situation can be rectified.

9. When shipping spare parts for arriving vessel in port, shipping instructions must declare barranquilla as final destination, as otherwise parts may get stucked at another airport for more than 15 days. Please bear in mind, spares require at least three working days for delivery on board.

10. For rainy periods, considering there is a lot of solid and silt in suspension in the river, the pilot company recommends the ships crew to verify the main engine and generators fresh water cooling system at least 6 hours prior departure.

11. The antinarcotic police dept. Has been set up a local station at the public port in order to inspect all vessels prior sailing at any of the berth within the port of barranquilla; which may extend the vessel´s stay for some time.

12. For signing on/off crews it is very important you to send us at least 6 days prior their arrival/departure their respective flight details in order to get the immigration dept. Authorization, as per colombian regulations. Please note we cannot give ‘ok on board´s’ if we do not get this authorization previously. Also note, the immigration dept. Is not authorizing the entrance/departure to crewmembers without flight details duly confirmed by airlines. Please send crewmember details with at least complete name, surname, rank, passport number and any other information you consider necessary for these crew changes. Please bear in mind on-signers with nationality that requires colombian visa must arrive to colombia with this document in order, as immigration dept. Is not granting visas for transit on arrival. This office is granting visas for transit for off-signers, only.

Any clarification of above regulations/recommendations, please feel free to contact us prior to vessels arrival in port.