Porto Alegre, Brazil partially reopens post-flood

: Agriculture, Fertilizers
24/06/17

The Porto Alegre port, in Brazil's flood-hit southern Rio Grande do Sul state, partially resumed operations last week while other area ports continue to recover.

Activities had been suspended at Porto Alegre since 2 May, following the unprecedented floods that hit the state in late April and May, but there was a partial reopening on 14 June.

Porto Alegre is still carrying out cleaning and maintenance, and port authority Portos RS is still analyzing damage to infrastructure. The first operation will take place at the POA02 terminal, leased by logistic firm Serra Morena. The 60,456 dwt bulk carrier Nord Mississipi will be unloading inputs for fertilizer production.

Porto Alegre is one of three ports in Rio Grande do Sul, along with Pelotas and Rio Grande. Pelotas was also hit by the floods but resumed operations on 21 May.

The port of Rio Grande did not suspend operations but has had to reduce the draft of ships allowed in to port because of debris and sediment left by the flooding. The draft at the Bunge, Bianchini and Termasa/Tergrasa terminals was reduced to 12.8 meters (42ft) on 21 May and is now 11.9m.

Rio Grande do Sul is once again on alert because of the forecast of new rains in the state over the next few days.

By João Petrini

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