A recent study undertaken by the Dock Workers Cooperative has indicated that operations at the Argentinian river port of San Marti´n may well collapse next year given a predicted 27% increase in vessel movements. At the same time, the grain harvest in 2013 is expected to increase by nearly 40%, putting undue pressure on both the river system and road network.
There are 15 loading and waiting points in the port, but these are insufficient to cope with additional volume. Annually, some 4500 vessels make use of the 22 port terminals and 31 quays that make up the river complex. Only 25 of the quays are used by deep sea vessels and the other six by barges.
Barge traffic is particularly important, with the port handling around 4,000 units, with another 10,500 passing through the port en route for other ports downriver, adding to the overall congestion.
BC