The shipping platform

Location: Maceio harbour lies to the N of the city and is the most sheltered natural harbour between Recife and Salvador. General overview: The port exports bulk and bagged sugar and molasses. Main imports are fertiliser, frozen fish, maize and wheat. There is no bar; the bay lies open to the S with depths of 11-16m close in. A breakwater 3,000m in length in the form of an inverted "L" has been built SW of reefs, turning WNW and enclosing a large area of calm water, with the entrance to this pool facing NW. The port has a total of 6 berths, 4 used for general cargo and 2 for sugar. The Maritime Terminal is used for chemical products owned by Salgema Industrias Quimicas and consists of an "L" shaped pier which projects 0.6nm from the shore 4nm WSW of Ponta Verde. Berths: -Sugar Terminal: length: 250m; depth: 10.5m; remarks: loading of sugar, molasses; -Petro Tanker: draft: 10.67m; remarks: Petroleum; -Salgema: depth: 7.6m; remarks: loading and discharge of chemicals, sugar, general cargo; General Cargo Wharf: -No. 201: length: 200m; depth: 10.5m; remarks: discharge of bagged sugar, general cargo, wheat, fertiliser; -No. 203: length: 200m; depth: 10.5m; remarks: discharge of bagged sugar, general cargo, wheat, fertiliser. Traffic figures: Approx 260 vessels visit the port annually. Load line zone: Tropical. Max size: Max LOA 220m; draught 10.5m, airdraught 13.0m (sugar terminal).