The shipping platform

Location: The port of Mar del Plata is situated 4.8km from the town of Mar del Plata, on the Atlantic Coast, 302 miles from Buenos Aires. General overview: The port is enclosed by two breakwaters, providing a base for the Argentine Navy and a large fishing fleet. There are three commercial basins. Exports consist of fish, grain, frozen meats and domestic cargo. Small quantity of imports, mainly timber are handled, these operations take place at Berth No 6. Butane and propane gas are discharged at a dolphin berth, connected to inland tanks. Mar del Plata’s port is formed by two areas: South and North. The South area is a commercial one. It has three breakwaters called, from North to South, Overseas (Breakwater 3), Local (Breakwater 1) and fisher’s (Breakwater 1) as well as a combustible sector on the South Breakwater’s internal lateral. The North area consists of a passengers’ dock over the North Breakwater, continues with a Naval Base located in Dock F, then there is a marina for sport boats, both protected by breakwater 4. Berths: Big swell causes vessels to range, therefore Masters recommended have ready fenders for use at berth. Vessels can enter or sail any time day or night. There are three basins (A, B, C) in the commercial port, of which the smaller fishing vessels or inshore craft use the most Southerly Basin (A), and the trawlers the Coastal basin (B). Here an extension of the marine railway and dry docking facilities is now ready. ●Basin C: The basin has an Elevator (Berths No. 12 and 13) on its N side, capacity 25,000 tons, with eight tubes and two belts, load rate 350 t.p.h. per belt. Airdraft 12.5 m. (LW). In addition to the elevator berth there are Berths No. 7 – 11. -Lengths: No. 7, 178 m.; No. 8, 9 and 10, total length 500 m.; No. 11, 134 m.; No. 12 and 13, 276 m. -Depths: No. 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13, 26 ft.; No. 10, 24 ft. and No. 11, 21 ft. -Pier 6: Cruise Ship Pier: Max. LOA 220 m. Depth alongside 30 ft. -Cargo: Loading Marks: Vessels can load to their Summer marks all year round if sailing northbound. -Import Cargo: This is a fully authorised Custom house. Berth 9 in the central basin is the most appropriate berth for handling import cargo, there being little space on shore at the other berths. Berth 7, the pierhead here, has 30 ft. and is also reasonably suitable for discharging, but in the Northern basin there is little or no room for depositing cargo alongside. -Import of Potatoes: Is permitted here, this being near the main potato growing region but permission must be obtained for the discharge of certified seed potatoes. Traffic figures: Exports of approx 111,000t of grain and 68,500t of fish is handled annually. Approx 19 vessels handled annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA 225m, draught 9.1m, 61,335DWT.