Carriers update on Chilean terminals

Carriers update on Chilean terminals    Container carriers said their operations have experienced some disruptions from the earthquake in Chile last week.
   Compa''a Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV), the Chilean shipping company that is the largest in Latin America, said its vessels and tugboats operating in Chile “are 100 percent technically operative and no significant damage have occurred to them.”
   CSAV and the other major Chilean carrier, CCNI, said operations in the north of Chile are being carried out without any difficulties. CCNI said in the central zone, terminals were expected to be fully operational within two days.
   German carrier Hamburg S'd gave a similar report, saying the northern ports of Iquique, Antofagasta and Port Angamos are fully operational, the carrier said.
   In Valparaiso Hamburg S'd said the container terminal it uses, TPSV, “has announced that they are 90 percent operational with respect to dry and reefer cargoes. Container berths 1, 2 and 3 are operational, whilst the older berths 4, 5 and 7 are not operating due to structural damage.'
   It added that TPSV maintains an emergency berthing program (i.e., temporarily suspending agreed berthing windows) to ensure efficient port operation, allocating berths on a first come, first served basis. TPSV is still servicing Navy barges that carry supplies to areas affected by the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami waves in the south of Chile.
   In Santiago, carrier APL said its warehouse complex in Comuna de Padahuel is temporarily closed due to earthquake damage.
   “We're currently assessing the damage and will announce a date for reopening when we've finalized our recovery plans,” APL said.
   CSAV said subsidiaries and affiliate companies located in the central and south of Chile related to port activities have experienced damages, which are still to be assessed.
   Operations have been disrupted either totally or partially, but CSAV said, “nevertheless, even those ports located in the said areas are gradually resuming their activities.
   “San Antonio is already attending vessels,” CSAV added.
   Hamburg S'd said the STI terminal where it operates in San Antonio “has announced officially that its dock structure did not suffer any serious damage that could limit normal terminal operation. As of 2 p.m. March 2, the terminal was allowed by maritime authorities to operate geared ships. However, as of the morning of March 3, STI remains without the power necessary to move ground resources such as gantry cranes, or to supply electrical power to reefer containers.”
   APL said its port terminal in San Antonio is open but severely congested. It said its ship APL Colima omitted its weekly call in San Antonio, and was diverted. APL said it would update vessel schedules as information becomes available, but added container pickup and delivery at the port of San Antonio continues with moderate delays.
   CSAV said that with respect to San Vicente, “apparently there are not damages which may prevent its normal operation and, if this is confirmed, it would be ready to resume activities in the next days.”
   Hamburg S'd said, “no official information is available yet about the physical condition of the San Vicente terminal. However, unconfirmed reports indicate that the terminal has not sustained serious damage to the berths and that the shore cranes are still subject to a technical review. The terminal yard was flooded and may have cracks and other major surface damage.”
   That was better news than what CCNI had reported, which had said both San Vincente and Lirquen were “completely devastated.”
   Hamburg S'd added that “no official information is yet available about conditions at the Lirquen terminal. First indications are that the pier and shore cranes are in generally good condition but subject to a technical review. The yard was flooded and may have cracks and other major surface damage.'
   CSAV added that “according with the current information available, we do not foresee significant financial impact on CSAV,” noting that subsidiaries and affiliates companies located in the central and south of Chile are covered by insurance. ' Chris Dupin