The shipping platform

Location: La Plata is situated on the left bank of the estuary of the River Plate from seaward, 6 n.m. from La Plata city and 30 n.m. south of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of the Province of Buenos Aires General overview: The port of La Plata consists of 2 main berthing areas, Gran Dock and the Puerto Ingeniero Rocca Berth. Gran Dock is principally used by tankers from the National oil fields. Crude oil, petroleum products and liquid gas are handled. There is a refinery which is being continually extended, the pipeline to Puerto Rosales (Bahia Blanca) supplies much of the crude. There is also a petrochemical plant from which benzene and other petro chemicals are loaded. The Puerto Ingeniero Rocca Quay is the site of a cold rolling steel mill where imports of raw materials (in coils) are transformed into cold rolled steel sheets and wire for export. Traffic figures: Approx 3,000,000t of cargo is handled annually. Berths: ●Grand Dock: Length 2,500 m., the first 1,200 m. are not in use. On the eastern side Berths No. 1, 2 and 3 are used by tankers. On the western side Berths No. 6 and 7 are used for handling chemicals, Berths No. 7 and 8 for handling bulk coke and Berth No. 9 is used for general cargo. The turning basin at the head of the dock offers a turning circle approximately diameter 170 m. is used by vessels that do not swing at Cuatro Bocas. ●Puerto Rocca: Reinforced concrete quay, length 154 m., depth 5.50 m. (CD), used to load steel products. ●Free Zone Berth: Located in an area of 229 ha. surrounding Rio Santiago shipyard known as Berth No. 23, has length 275 m. and depth 7.01 m. ●Linesman: Provided by private firms, and available throughout 24 hours. Arrangements made through Agent Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA 215m, beam 30m. Draught: The new limitation for entrance and sailing at La Plata is 7.97m at zero level located at Km 4.8/5.0 of the main access channel, with 50m width. Port pilots therefore recommend an entrance/sailing draught as follows: 8.58m, with 0.9m rising tide (average high tide of La Plata port). Siderar Terminal Puerto Rocca and Astillero Rio Santiago Berth are limited at Rio Santiago Channel to 7.06m at zero level. Therefore, considering 0.30m less under keel as a safe margin for clearance, La Plata port pilots suggest maximum draught recommended for Puerto Rocco is 7.67m with 0.90m of rising tide for entrance and sailing. Special permission may be granted by the Coastguard for vessels up to Panamax size. The following conditions apply: 1. Daylight entry and sailing 2. Subject to tugs with an adequate bollard pull being available 3. Wind speed below 19km/hr 4. UKC to be a min of 0.4m at all times.