Updated draft limitation to navigate between Nueva Palmira and Fray Bentos ports in Uruguay
Date: 27/12/2018
Please note that the CARU (" Comisión Administrativa del Río Uruguay" ) updated the draft limitation of the 2 more critical places that affect the maximum draft of the vessels that navigate from Nueva Palmira port to Fray Bentos port or viceversa.
Updated figures as follows:
Critical passage Km Depth (m)
Márquez Inferior - 7.54
Márquez Medio - 7..37
Márquez Superior 41.9 7.20
Punta Amarilla 53.6 7.40
Punta Caballos 74.0 7.10
Barrizal 86.9 7.10
After the last dredging works done, draft limitation is given by "Punta Caballos passage" as well as "Barrizal passage" as follow: 7.10 meters + plus average water level - UKC (2 feet).
Maximum sailing draft recommended by pilots to sail directly without waiting for an extraordinary tide is 7.10 meters FW taking a water river level of abt 0.60 meters to comply with the UKC.
Having said that, this sailing draft could be improved, always taking into consideration weather conditions and mainly wind direction and intensity which would affect the river water level at Nueva Palmira.
Considering that average water river level of Nueva Palmira port is abt 0.80 meters, it is reasonable that a vessel could sail from Fray Bentos port with a maximum sailing draft of 7.30 meters FW or even more if the river water level is over the average.
Keep you posted