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Uruguay - Oriental Republic of Uruguay
The capital of Uruguay is Montevideo. The total area of the country is 176.215 Km2, and the 88% of the territory is apt for the agriculture. The population is in the majority of Spanish and Italian ancestries. In 1990 the total population was 3.094.214 inhabitants, but is maintained in a slow growth due to the emigration. The urban population constitutes the 87% of the total. Montevideo has 1.700.000 inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The country is a region of very uniform land; with slightly wavy lands and hills without mountains. It shows an excellent region for the cattle and the forestation. The beaches of fine and white sands attract the tourism of the entire world.

Flag
The national flag is white with 4 horizontal blue lines, and in the left upper angle there is a golden sun with 16 rays, alternated straight and wavy, on a white back. All the foreign ships while entering in Uruguayan waters, and during their stay in the port should hoist the flag of the highest mast.

Climate and production
The climate is tepid and temperate, without extremes of heat or cold, or rains or excessive drought. The agriculture is the main activity and the stockbreeding is of utmost importance. In the year 2006 there were in stock near 11.7 million heads of cattle and 11.2 million sheep. The main exports continue being the meat and their secondary products, the wool, the rice, the milk products and its by products, the wood in their different alternatives, the citrus fruits and the fish. The country has small mineral resources and no petroleum.

Estimated time of arrival of the ships
The agents should notify the Authorities of the Port at least 48 hours before the arrival of the ships. The container-carriers load / discharge between 30 and 40 containers per hour. The passenger ships have the priority of mooring in the quay, and the agents should inform the National Administration of Ports (ANP) of the ETA, 10 days in advance, with a confirmation 48 hours before the arrival.

Free Pratique
To enter the port, or outer port, and to dock to quay, and to be ready for operations of load and discharge, the following message should be sent in Spanish to the agents, since the Sanitary Authorities should receive the ETA at least 12 hours before the arrival to the Montevideo roads.

Ship (the name of the Ship and the flag) .............. coming from (the list of the last 3 ports before Montevideo) ............... with crew members (quantity of crew members) and ........... passengers for the port and in transit (quantity of passengers for the port and in transit). Good sanitary condition on board, there is none of the six known pestilential sickness on board. Captain (name and complete surnames) Fax, cable or e- mail can be utilized. Nevertheless, it should be considered that the order of the agent for the free Pratique should be accompanied by the original message, that if sent by radio message, is delayed at times when passed through telephone. It is then preferably to utilize the services of fax or e-mail when possible. Once the free Pratique is granted (it is usually automatic when arriving from a port without sanitary problems) the agents can accelerate the reception and the beginning of the operations. The Free Pratique can be asked in ports of Uruguayan rivers, but to avoid the delays it is convenient to request it from Montevideo, as above mentioned. As the ship should embark the river or port pilot at Montevideo's roads, the pilot can receive the order of the Sanitary Authorities that offer the Free Pratique, to present it to the Captain. Unless the Free Pratique has been provided, the ship should maintain hoisted the flag "Q" until the sanitary visit is completed.  

The ports of Uruguay
The ports of Uruguay in the River Plate and towards the north on the Uruguay River (from the north heading in the coast from east to west) are these: In the Atlantic coast: La Paloma, José Ignacio terminal SBM and Punta del Este for cruise ships and anchorage, no available quay for mooring, except for small crafts until 40 meters of length. In the River Plate: Montevideo, Colonia and Juan Lacaze. In the Uruguay River: Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, M' Bopicua, Paysandú and Salto.

Note: New terminals are being built in Nueva Palmira and next to Fray Bentos.

General information

Pilotage.
To sail to west of the Plate of Montevideo and in the Uruguay River, the river pilot is compulsory -the pilot can be Uruguayan or Argentinean according to the circumstances, but for the entrance or sailing of Uruguayan ports, inclusive Montevideo, the pilot should be Uruguayan. The Free Pratique can be provided at the arrival in all ports of the river. The working hours of the longshoremen are stipulated in all Uruguayan ports and they have been described under "Montevideo" (q.v.).

The bridges on the Uruguay River.
Barely to the north of Fray Bentos in the 101 km. on the Uruguay River, the bridge that links Uruguay and Argentina is 5.366 m long, the central space is 200 m  wide and the free space on the river is of 40 m.  To the north of Paysandú there is another bridge and in the north a third, or exactly a road, and a railroad track have been built on the Dam of Salto Grande, both connecting the country with Argentina. 

The arrivals from the River Plate to ports in the Uruguay River.

Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, M' Bopicua and Paysandú can be reached  sailing from Montevideo via the Martin Garcia Channel or via Recalada (as advancing towards Buenos Aires), the Mitre Channel for the rivers Paraná de las Palmas /Paraná Bravo or vice versa in departures (and from or to any port that is used).

In the Atlantic coast:  La Paloma and José Ignacio Terminal SBM. 

La Paloma
Lat.  34°35'S long.  54°15' W. 

La Paloma is a small bay, protected by a breakwater of the southern and western gales.  It has a small quay that fishing boats grounds utilize to discharge its cargo to a plant ashore. The pilot comes from Montevideo, no tug is required, and water, provisions and fuel can be supplied. 

Jose Ignacio
Lat 34°53'30"S Long. 54°42'54.W
Letter: U.K. 3064
U.S. 24050

José Ignacio Terminal is a petroleum SBM installed at 3.600 m of the Punta of José Ignacio to the  northeastern of Punta del Este.  It is property of ANCAP, and the agents should receive the notice of the arrival with at least 5 days of anticipation to permit to do the prior arrangements.  The Estimated Time of Arrival should be sent not less than 48 prior hours and confirmed 24 and 12 hours before the arrival.  The message with complete details of the ship and the cargo can be sent by radio or VHF to the Control of the Traffic Center (Q.V.) and to ANCAP, Montevideo.

Anchoring.
In the arrival, the ship should anchor in Lat.  35° 57'30"S long.  54°40'00" W and the anchor should not be released closer than a mile and ½ to SBM and with the alignment that the submarine pipes of the terminal indicate.
 Authorities, agents and pilots. 
The ship should wait in this anchorage for the pilot, the buoy operations Captain, Health, Customs, Prefecture, Migration, representatives of ANCAP, the agent, and the mooring team to get on board.
The anchorage zone in time of bad weather.
When the authorities mentioned cannot leave due to the bad weather, the ship should proceed to anchorage near 3 miles southwestern of the SBM, in order to wait for  the instructions.

In the River Plate the ports are Montevideo and Colonia.

Port of Montevideo
In view of the predominance of Montevideo in the cargo and passenger cruise activities of the country, the information of this port has been included separately.

Montevideo Lat.  34°54'33"S Long.  56°12' 45" W
Letter:  Uruguayan 441
U.K.  3064, 2001
U.S. 24050,24054

Montevideo is the capital of the country, with a population of 1.700.000 inhabitants, that is almost the half of the total population of Uruguay.  The port handles almost all the imports of the country and the exports mainly are effected through Montevideo and Nueva Palmira.  The approach by the Atlantic  is between the Island of Flores and the English Bank. 

Anchorage.
The outer road are the south of the bay.  No pilot is required, and the authorities do not clear the ship, unless some commercial operation is carried out.  The anchors should not be dropped nearer to 1/2 mile of the on buoys that mark the channel of the entrance, or of the breakwater.  The bottom is of soft mud and the anchors are prone to  be dragged during a storm.  The Outer port offers a more safe anchoring and should be requested permission to do it, as so does the pilot for the entrance. 

Responsibility of the port authority
The Port (Harbor Terminals) is responsible for the number of packages/containers received and for the weight, and if the same were weighed properly. They respond also by the contents of same, if an adequate packing is provided, in good condition and with no sign of having been violated. The Port will not respond for weights done not verified when entering its terminals; by the contents of no package whose receipt in the entrance was "observed"; by the damage or the shortage due to force majeurer; by the damage to goods left out of a terminal by the negligence of the ship or consignees; by dangerous substances not stored in the appropriate safety areas, on account of inexact statement or insufficient of its chemical composition.  

Robbery.
All the possible precautions should be taken to prevent the robbery of cargo in the ships.

P and I clubs.
Their intervention should be asked in any case of doubtful condition before the discharge or after the opening.

The shipments of livestock. 
The animals are inspected before the shipment.  The ships that come from the districts  where illness has been reported should be observed, since the animals perhaps are not authorized for the export.  The Veterinary office requires a note 3 days before the shipment, with complete details of the origin of the cattle, the destination, etc.  The agent should arrange so that the ship be inspected by the Veterinary office, and should obtain a certificate of the inspector 24 hours before the load starts. 
The ships that carry animals of Uruguayan ports are not permitted to load animals in foreign ports.
Three months after the departure, the Veterinary office requires a related events details report of the animals during the trip.
There are regulations for the size of pens for the sheep; there is also a quantity established of fodder and water to be carried by the ship for each animal; in the case of cattle, the elements and the fodder vary according to the weight of each animal.  The items, the fodder and the water can be sent from Montevideo, but they are susceptible to inspection by the Veterinary official before the animals embark.
The housekeeping birds imports and /or eggs is prohibited from the countries where there is  the "illness of Newcastle".

The containers.
The terminal of containers "Muelle de Escala" in Montevideo (TCP) has 2 gantry cranes and they can handle 1 container-carrier docked, although there are projects to extend the quay and to permit the mooring of two ships at the same time. 
Other harbor operators as Montecon have also facilities in other quays and also operating Liehberr and Gottwald cranes for load and discharge of containers and project cargo. In 2006 the port of Montevideo mobilized 309.122 containers or 519.338 TEUS among the load and discharge.  The containers FCL are sent off directly from the terminal to the consignees local and the containers LCL in the private harbor terminals inside the port.

The Pilotage
The pilotage is compulsory and the port pilot should embark in the channel of access, 11.00 m to the south of the entrance to the  Outer port, where there is a buoy in the middle of the channel - with a sparkling white light and a radar screen (buoy axis) in the position 34°59' Lat S and 56º 13' 28'' Long W). 

The pilot should board with a pilot ladder, when the ship in movement or motionless.  The pilots launch is the "Ederra" of 22 m of length, has a maximum speed of 15 knots, or with waves 13 knots.  The launch has an orange-red hull painted, wrapping varnished and white housing.  It is not in the buoy axis, but leaves from shore to meet the ships according to the indications of the agents of the Estimated Time of Arrival and the confirmation of the office of the pilots.  The place of embarking is coordinated with the pilots service via Vhf channel 11 or 16.  Another similar launch '' Ederra II'' is under repair, and in case of  being required, a launch Ederra with a speed of 9 knots can be utilized.  On the way out of the ship, the pilot is disembarked also in coordination with the Captain.  The pilots are in permanent watch, 24 hours a day and they can be requested in the schedules before  04.00, 08.00, 12.00, 16.00, 20.00 and 23.59, to leave one hour after being requested. 

Access to the channel.
The original main channel of access extends from the jetty to the Km 9.35 and in the Km 6.5 was dredged a deviation in four '' sections'', to the east up to the Km 42.4.  The depth to December 2006 is 11 meters to zero.  It is clearly marked with light buoys in both sides.  Barely to  the west of the channel, near the Km.  5, the mast of the remains of the shipwreck of the "Calpean Star" is still visible and there is a signal buoy, the depth is of 7.30 meters.
The salinity of the water is generally brackish varying with the wind and the tide.  The degree of salinity is transmitted in the daily weather bulletins and varies between fresh water and of sea.  The southern winds give the highest degree of salinity, and the average goes between 1004 and 1009.

The tide and the wind.
The variation of the astronomic tide is small, exceeding rarely a foot.  The largest influence in the height of the water is the direction and the force of the wind.  The North quadrant, brings a general descent of the water level, while Southern brings the level to rise so much like 1.80 meters.  The wind speed averages 12 knots in the year.  The port is safe but when the gales of the Southwest are strong, it is closed to all movements (see below). 

Climate.
The climate is good.  The temperature varies from 8° to 40° C in the summer and from zero to 25° C in months of winter.  The rain averages 39 mm annual, evenly distributed along the year, with an average of 7 days of rain every month.  The port closes for all the movements when the wind speed is on 32.4 knots –according to the will of the Maritime Authorities.  The wind speed can reach greater levels when it blows from the Southwest exceptionally between 80 and 120 km hour.  The port can be closed by the Maritime authority when the visibility is less than 1000 meters. 

The entrance to the exterior port.
Two breakwater or jetties protect the port, one of the east projected from the Punta Sarandí, WSW for 940 m, and one of the West, running NNW for 1.300 m.  The entrance to the exterior port among the breakwaters is of 300 m wide The distance among buoys is of 300 meters and have indicators of the currents through arrows.

The Exterior port.
The depth in the exterior port including the entrance to the docks is 10.50 meters.  Near 4 to 5 ships can anchor in the Outer port, depending on their draft and length. Buoys have been placed for these ships to moor.  It is prohibited to utilize the lifeboats of the ship for the crew or passengers except for direct authorization.  If they are required to be lowered or in the case that they need painting, etc., the permission should be obtained from the Authorities of the Port.  The use of tugs to enter, to anchor or to leave from the exterior port is compulsory.  If the ship has a propeller in bow or bow thruster, one tug can be used.  The maximum speed in the exterior port is 6 knots, 8 knots in the channel of access and 4 in the wharf.

Note:  In 1986 the channel of  access and the exterior port near the oriental breakwater was dredged to 12.00 meters of brackish water, like part of a plan to include shipowners and shipping of conveyors of grain that had begun to load up in the river in Argentinean ports (Rosario and San Martin), and transferred in the exterior port to large barges through a floating elevator.  But the project, due lack of support, failed and the area dredged went covered little by little.

Tugging.
It is compulsory to utilize the tugs in the exterior port of the quay and vice versa.  The tugs are ordered through agents and they are required directly by the pilot.  The mooring men are ordered at the same time of the tugs. 
The port is situated between the north coast of the peninsula of Montevideo and the “dique de cintura' -a breakwater  1.335 m long, parallel to the coast, and at a distance of 570 m from it.  The 'dique de cintura' is located towards the west, near 300 m to the north of the quay "A".  On this point as well as in the quay "B", a head of 150 m is projected in length towards the south of the breakwater. 
There are 14 quays in the port for ocean ships, depending on the length of the ships, as well as 2 quays – these are utilized mainly for tankers- in La Teja, to the North of the bay.  The docks are situated to the east of the exterior port and the quays and the basins they are described to its west.

Local communications
VHF: the call and the security should be reported in Channel 16; the weather report, the notices to mariners and the warnings (the storms, the fog, the closing of the port) in Channel 15; the information and the control of the area in Channel 13; the Center of Control of the Coast Guard in Channel 11; the tugs, the pilots, bridge to bridge in Channel 6 or 8; the observations in  Channel 16; and the alternatives in Channel 11 and 13.  The pilots embark and they disembark in the axis buoy of the Montevideo roads, 180 deg/5' of the jetty (Latitude 34°59'8 S Long 56°13'4W)

Working hours.
Normally: every working day, including Saturday and Sundays from 07:00 to 15:00, 15:00 to 23:00 and 23.00 to 07:00.

Stevedore / Inventories.
In 1992, the Law 16.246 was approved, changing the activity of the port.  The stevedores were privatized ashore and on board, and there are presently 10 independent stevedoring companies that offer their services.  The minimum team accepted consists of 1 laborer, 3 stevedores on board, 2 ashore, plus one foreman.  These numbers are adjusted to the required by real needs.

Cleaning of grips, tanks, etc.
A group of stevedores can be hired to this work but it is usually done by the crew. The conditions for washing to carry out this work ashore, should be available on board in all the ships. The opening and closing of hatchways can be done by the crew or the stevedore. The hatchways should be maintained closed when they are not in use.

Cargo.
When handling cargo in bulk, a canvas should be placed between the side of the ship and the quay to avoid that the merchandise fall to the water. If it falls in the quay the same one should be swept and put in the discharge equipment or in containers for trash arranged in the quay.

There is a fine if the cargo falls in the water. Officials of the Port Prefecture are required for ships with explosives, inflammable substances, or dangerous cargo. The garbage can be collected each morning by a truck. The agents can fix this and the costs vary depending on its quantity.

Supply of fuel and water.
In our quays there are no pipes for taking fuels, for which they are supplied by tank ships. It is compulsory the use of a Prefecture Officer to verify the operation. The water is available by pipes in all the quays, but the ship should supply the hoses on board, if possible. The order should be done by means of the agents. The supply is of 80 tons an hour in normal conditions.

There is, moreover, a barge of water of 200 tons of capacity, but we do not suggest its utilization for being very slow to operate, except in case of large quantities.

Immigration regulations.

Warning.
The passengers that arrive with incomplete documents and without a visa in case of being required, will not be able to enter the country.

Tourists.
A passport is required (with or without visa) for all the tourists (usual stay 90 days), although a card of national identity is worth for citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

For passengers or crew members of other nationalities please consult us since the regulations are subject to changes permanently.

Passengers ships.
The passengers ships that arrive at Montevideo only for embarking or disembarking passengers, should deal the entrance with the authorities of Migration. The passengers in transit that are going to disembark ashore should leave their passports with the assistant in charge. They can take with them an ID card for disembarking, serving as a document of identity while they are in land. If a passenger fails in the re-embarkation on the sailing, the agent should report immediately the matter to the Migration officials.

Traffic Control system.
The Traffic Control System includes all the Uruguayan ports, the rivers and the national maritime navigable water. The system is controlled by the Naval Prefecture, that imposes fines to the ships that do not follow the rules. The objective is to control all the movements of the transportation in Uruguayan water; to prevent collisions among ships, the piers, damages to the installations of the port, and also to put on alert the rescue systems -by sea and air- for ships in problems. Thus it contributes to a greater security in navigation, and facilitates the movements in channels and ports, entrance, mooring and sailing.

It is the Naval Prefecture who operates the system that works in the port (Lat. 34°54'03" S, long, 56°12'44" W); and the messages should be sent to "COMOPRE" (Prefecture of Control of Montevideo), the international sign of the call CWC 39. All the ships that enter Uruguayan waters from the Atlantic or the ones that leave for the ocean, should maintain contact with the Centers of Control in the different zones, in the following way:

a. La Paloma of Long. 50°50'W to 54°15'W, limited by the azimuth 128° of the lighthouse of the Chuý (the lateral demarcation with Brazil).
b. Punta del Este of Long. 54°15'W to 50º30'W.
c. Montevideo of Long. 55°30' to 57°21'W, there are 2 zones of lighthouses:
I Zone declared "Alfa" of the River Plate, between the coast and Long. 55°30 and 57°21 'W, and in the south by the limit of the River Plate with Argentinean water.
II Zone declared "Bravo" of the River Plate between the meridians of Punta Sayago and Punta Brava, and of the coast and the Latitude. 35°01 'S. It includes the harbor, the channel of the access, the outer port, the basins and quays of Montevideo.

In each zone, the ship should notify the position when entering and when leaving, the flag, the name, the call sign, the origin port, the latitude, the length, the course, the speed and the destination, and the Estimated Time of Arrival to destination.  Besides, it should report any accident, damage or fire on board, the aid offered to some ship in problems or difficulty, the view of any damaging obstruction for navigation, and that is not maintained afloat, and any notable reduction in the visibility.  Any difficulty of pilotage should be reported, as well as the time to take or to disembark the pilot. 

16- sign of call and security (156,800 mhz.) 
15- information of the climate and the notice to mariners(156,750 mhz.) 
13 and 11- Transmit of Centers (156,650 and 156,550 mhz.)
9 and 8- the operations of the Port (156,450 and 156,400 mhz.)
6- Bridge to bridge (156,350 mhz.)

Fees of agency
The scale of fees and services of agency and the conditions, are approved by the members of the Association of Transportation (Central of Navigation) and adjusted periodically.  The copies can be obtained of agents or of the CN.

Lightening fuel oils and discharge of oil.
While sailing in Uruguayan water, is strictly prohibited to carry out any operation connected with lightening fuel oils, cleaning and pumping out, pumping out petroleum, greasy or inflammable substances, except in those areas authorized for this purpose. The Prefecture has notified to the Association of Transportation that the discharges of oil observed in areas of the port particularly and in Uruguayan water in general, should be reported immediately to the nearby Control of Prefecture by VHF if is necessary; other way the oily spot will be attributed to the ship, with the pertinent fine.

Use of siren.
The sirens or any another acoustic device are explicitly prohibited by any reason, except in cases of alarm. 

Cleaning on board.
When washing the bridges of the ships in the quay, the water should not be spilled to shore or the sea. 

Welding
Before doing any welding work, the Captain should contact the agent to obtain the permission of the Prefecture. 

Tugs.
The tugging should begin as from the 10 minutes of the arrival of the tugs to the side, and if the procedure takes more than one hour, a surcharge is paid.

Office.
If the ship does not sail before the 24 hours after it has been cleared off the office, a new dispatch should be requested from the Authorities.

Cargoes.  The imports and exports. 
The goods in transit should be marked clearly "in traffic to...  (The final destination)" or "in transit to...  (The name of port or Free Zone in Uruguay)", the one who applies.  The cargo in transit should be described to this effect in all documents, inclusive in the cargo manifest.

Zones to Lighten, to Transfer, and to Complete cargoes, supplies and services.

1. Zone of Anchoring, Supplies and Services
a.Lat.  35° 01' 55 S Long.  56° 04' 23 W
b.Lat.  35° 02' 45 S Long.  55° 59' 43 W
c.Lat.  35° 03' 15 S Long.  55° 59' 43 W
d.Lat.  35° 04' 85 S Long.  56° 04' 23 W

2. Zone to Lighten, to Transfer and to Complete cargoes.
By treaty, Uruguay and Argentina have established 4 zones at the entrance of the River Plate to be utilized by the ships that require to lighten cargoes when leaving for Montevideo, Buenos Aires or other ports of rivers of both countries.  The zones are utilized also to load or to top off cargo that have been loaded partly in ports of the basin of the Plate.  The coordinates given underneath delimit the zones: 

1) Alpha Zone
a.Lat.  35° 06' 50 S Long, 55° 37' 02 W
b.Lat.  35° 06' 50 S Long, 55° 45' 03 W
c.Lat.  35° 09' 50 S Long.  53° 45' 03 W
d.Lat.  35° 09' 50 S Long.  55° 37' 02 W

2) 'B' (Bravo)
1. Lat.  35° 30' 35° 33' S Long.  56° 30'.  56° 36' W

3) 'C' (Charlie)
1. Lat.  35° 39' 36° 05' S Long.  56° 30' 56° 38' W

4) 'D' (Delta)
a) Lat.  35° 04' 35° 06' S Long.  55°11' 55° 16' W

The depth of the water in the zones "A" or "B" is at least of 12.80 meters brackish water, and in the zones "C" and "D" of 15.85 meters, that are utilized mainly to lighten tankers. When lightening, a pilot and a Prefecture Officer of the country of destination of the cargo remains on board. From Montevideo there is a fast service the 24 hours of launches for crews, and for the delivery of supplies, that can be fixed in the Services Zone.

Oil Pollution
Under the law 13.924 of Uruguay,  the International Convention for the Prevention of the Contamination of the Sea by Hydrocarbons was approved.  Among other measures, it is prohibited to discharge or to throw hydrocarbons  100 miles from the coast.  The washing of the tanks is prohibited in the river waters, and can only be carried out to the south and the east of Latitude.  35°s, Long.55°30'W. 
As part of the control, the tankers agents should inform the Naval Prefecture 24 hours before sailing, of the estimated time of arrival, of the destination, of the estimated speed from Montevideo to Brazilian waters (the border line), the colour of the superstructure and funnel, of the type of ship and if it has a separator of oil-water.  The ship should report to the Central of Control of its presence by the Channel of VHF 13 or 16, in its passage by Flores Island , Punta del Este and Chuý.

Mooring and adjust of compass.
To make a call in Montevideo, the outer port is considered very convenient and is the cheapest place for the ships that arrive from the River Plate to wait, to anchor, to moor or to await orders.  They could also anchor in the Services Zone without any charge to wait orders.  No ship can anchor in Services Zone, unless a responsible agent is appointed to attend it.

Adjust of compass.
The ships that navigate through the Magellan Strait must, according to Chilean regulations, have their compass verified for deviations of more than 5 degrees. To avoid the probable delays when solving this in the arrival to the Strait, the port of Montevideo has all the facilities to carry out the inspection and any adjustment that can be necessary. The port is calm, with a relatively small movement, the magnetic variation at present is very small and an adjustment of compass can be done at any moment.

Financial news.
Uruguay is a free financial market with exchange rates for currencies governed by the prices of the market.  The currency can be remitted freely to and from Uruguay.  This extraordinary situation in the east coast of South America is the reason why many companies established in South America carry out their financial operations from Uruguay.
For the moment, no income tax in the freight and passages applies in Uruguay.

Currency.
The currency in Uruguay is the peso ($); the exchange rate is $ 23,70 by U$ 1 (April, 2007).

Speed in the port basins.
The speed of the ship should not exceed 4 knots.

Flags.
The Uruguayan flag must be hoisted at the highest mast just as the ship enters Uruguayan territorial water until it leaves them.  Each day during this period, the flag should be lowered at the sunset and should be raised when day break.  The flag "B" should be hoisted when carrying explosives, inflammable substances, corrosive substances, etc.  When free pratique is requested, the "flag of quarantine" - "Q" - should be hoisted.  When a pilot is  requested, the flag "G" should be raised and indicate "H" when the pilot is on board.

Port of Nueva Palmira
River Uruguay Km.  0
The called "official quay" is made of reinforced concrete.  It is 84 meters long and 22 meters wide; it is linked to the coast by 240 meters of reinforced concrete overpass.  In 1991, 236 meters were added to the northern side of the quay that gives a total length of 320 meters.  At the same time a conveyor belt was placed in this part of the quay of the nearby grain elevator, and a mounted railing on the side of the quay was installed.  The average of load is from 7000 to 8000 tons a day, depending on the merchandise.  The storage capacity of the elevator is 35.000 tons.  The government granted the terminal facilities to a private enterprise known as TGU (Grain Terminals of the Uruguay)

In the original section of the quay, in the southern limit, the vessels with fertilizers operate.  The barges can operate from any side of the quay.  The quay is placed parallel to the current; the depth at the  side is 10.30 meters.

Situated adjacent to the "Official Quay" and inside the Free Zone, there are cold storages warehouses that can accommodate 5.200 pallets of fruit in temperatures from 0 to 15°C.  The place has 8 chambers, two of which have higher deck. 

The arrival and sailing from Nueva Palmira depends on the route taken: via the channel of Martin Garcia now dredged to 9.75 meters of fresh water.  A similar toll to channel Mitre is handled by Riovia SA.  Via Paraná Bravo / Mitre channel dredged to 33 p. FW, is susceptible to the depths in the passage of Talavera.  If proceeding via the Mitre Channel then the limitation of LOA is 230 m, nevertheless, the ship will suffer an increase in the costs of pilotage to navigate the Paraná River . 

The private terminal of NAVIOS allows the mooring and loading of ships through conveyor belts with an average that can reach the 12.000 tons per day or more, according to the product to load.

 Presently a new terminal close to the reefer warehouses is being built for management of general cargo and wood pulp. 

Port of Fray Bentos
River Uruguay Km.  95
General Description:  It is situated in the left arm of the River Uruguay, 213 miles from Montevideo by  river and  145 miles from Buenos Aires.  In 1976 a bridge was inaugurated, crossing the river in the Km.  101 linking Uruguay to  Argentina.  The bridge is  5.366 m  long, and the central space is of 220 m with a free space of 40 m over the River.
The arrival to Fray Bentos by the River Plate is generally via 'the Martin Garcia Channel'.  The Uruguay River has two crossings, the Márquez Crossing and the Barrizal Crossing, with a depth of about 5.79 meters. Both crossings are of soft mud in the bottom.  The prevailing winds make the predominant water level of the river and is generally around 6.70 metres.  The pilots and the Agents should be consulted beforehand in reference to this. 

In Fray Bentos, the facilities of the port consist of a quay with form of "L", of reinforced concrete that offers two quays along with a grain elevator, connected by a conveyor belt to the first section of the quay.  The first section of the quay leaves the coast with a western direction; is  200 m long and 22 m  wide, with railway lines and equipped with a transporting belt of grain that leaves the elevator, situated in the head of the quay.  A mounted tower receives the grain of the conveyor belt and can be positioned like required in front of the cargoes  to be loaded, a slide pipe is dropped from the tower on the ship for that purpose.  The average loading rate is about 200 TPH.  The storage capacity of the elevator is of 20.000 tons.  This quay is utilized also to load other cargoes, mainly citrus fruit.  The service of tugs can be coordinated with no less anticipation than 4 days if necessary. 

Port of Colonia
Colonia:  Latitude 34º 29' S / Length 57º 49' W
Also called Colonia del Sacramento, is the departmental capital.  Originally  built on the cape formed by the tips of San Pedro and Santa Rita. 
It is found 177 kilometers from Montevideo by the route Nº 1 and is also accessed from the North by route Nº 21 that connects it with the ports of Carmelo and Nueva Palmira.  It is 50 kilometers from Port Sauce (Juan Lacaze) and  30 miles from the port of Buenos Aires (Argentina Republic) by ferries.

In the cape of San Pedro it is located a lighthouse that was built in the year 1857 and is constituted by a tower of masonry painted of white with the ruins of an old building as scaffolds. It has a dome with red and white radial stripes.  Its focal height is of 34 meters above sea level and its characteristic is of a sparkle of white light each 9 seconds being visible from 6.4 miles with clear time.

From the port of the city several ferry lines operate transshipping passengers and vehicles with Buenos Aires.
The transshipping companies transport, also, high number of trucks that carry the general merchandise of exports of both countries, as thus also occasionally of third parts.
They also cross the river by this means, buses with tourist excursions.

Western to the port and to 2 miles of the jetty of protection, the largest island of the area is found, called San Gabriel of 900 by 500 meters.  All its surrounding proximity is rocky and of its northwest extreme it liberates a rest that surfaces in its extreme and that has a length of 400 meters.

280 meters to the Southeast extreme of the island the low bottom “Rúby” is located and this rock has a depth of 3.80 meters.

Also to the western of the port and 3.6 miles of the Western nose of the jetty is found the small island "Farallón" that is small, with 4 meters of height.  In the South tip is found the lighthouse built in the year 1870.  It has a focal height of 26 meters being its characteristic 2 sparkles of white light each 10 seconds with a reach of 16 miles.  It is a tower of masonry and construction in the base painted of white with a dome with red and white radial girdles.  The island is rocky surrounded by stones. To the southeast they spread up  to 400 meters and also leaves a sector of 700 meters with rocks with depths of a meter and smaller. 

In Av = 015º and  900 meters of the lighthouse there is a group of stones that emerge in low tide and towards the North sector a distance of a mile away there are low funds of rock with depths that oscillate between 1.20 and 4.20 meters. 

Present infrastructure
The Port of Colonia has three quays in the shape of U built in cement and protected by the South side by a jetty.  The overseas quay has a length of 146 mts.  That of coastal traffic is 115 mts. and that of union 200 mts of length.  The railroad track runs along the overseas quay. The draft is only 15 feet. 

The port counts on: 
2 ramps for trucks and heavy vehicles with two motors of 7.5 HP each one - One located in the overseas quay and another in that of coastal traffic.
1 ramp for cars with a motor of 11 HP located in the overseas quay.
1 automatic scale of "Negri, Quartino and Ferrario" with capacity of weighing  60.000 kilograms.

Has seven warehouses of different dimensions from the "A" of 239 m2 to the "G" of 3.350 m2.  The total capacity in warehouses is of 8.378 m2 and 1.766 m2 of river bed.  It also has a place of 300 m2 on the quay of union where the offices from A. N. P. are, and a building on the overseas quay as parlor for passengers.

Inside the harbor precinct, there are other facilities of the ANP that are leased to thirds for different services.

The port of Colonia, counts on two electric cranes to lift three tons and another for five tons.  Besides, it has an automatic scale for 60 tons, equipment for mobilization of cargo, and two electric ramps for trucks and cars. 

ROADS
24 feet depth
Density of the water:  1,000 (FW)

4 electric Cranes with capacity of lifting  3.000 kilograms located in the overseas quay. 
2 electric Cranes with capacity of lifting  5.000 kilograms located in the overseas quay. 
Local Length 30.40 - wide 9.90, surface 300.96 square meters.

Port of Sauce- Juan Lacaze
Juan Lacaze:  Latitude 34º 26'23" S / Length 57º 27'10" W

Location
County of Colonia on the River Plate. 

Distance of Montevideo:
By highway:  144 kilometers

Distance from Colonia:
By highway:  47 kilometers

From Montevideo, in direct navigation by the coast, 70 miles. 

Access: 
From Montevideo, Route Nº 1.
From Fray Bentos, Route Nº 2 (185 kilometers). 

The Port of Juan Lacaze, also called Port of Sauce, is found 35 kilometers from Colonia, on waters of the River Plate, whose road access is through the National Route 54 connection Route 1.
It shares with the Port of Colonia a similar economic Hinterland. 

This Port attends at present the business linked with the MERCOSUR lending service to ferries, the ones that at the same time transport merchandise stowed in cargo trucks.  Likewise, it offers services to bulk-carriers and intervenes in the river traffic of fuels and vehicles.

From 30-10-04, the Department of Transportation and Public Works signed the resolution 2002/7/4815, where the Minister resolves:
1° To authorize the circulation of vehicles with triple axis of 12 tires of  25,5 tons, in the following sections of the Route:
Route N° 9, Sector crossroads Route 8 – Rocha
Route N° 54, Sector crossroads Route 1 - Juan Lacaze. 

It counts on Installations of a sports port, the ones that are served for the yacht club, under supervision from the National Direction of Hydrography, the ones that receive numerous sports sailboats.

This port has among its superstructures, a ramp for shipment and unloading of vehicles. 

In reference to the industrial park, the installations of the National Factory of Paper are emphasized (FANAPEL), which is an important focus of industrial production, the one that supplies of  paper the local market and also serves regional markets of international level.

The port of Juan Lacaze also counts on:

It receives usually fuel for industrial plants.

This port is an important point of call for sports Argentinean boats and its capacity is filled during the summer season.

Port of Paysandú
Paysandú is located in a strategic zone, on the banks of the River Uruguay,  379 Km. from Montevideo and Buenos Aires, crossed by the National Routes Nº 3, 24, 26 and 90.  The production of this region concentrates on wood, citrus, cereals, oily and Portland cement.  The capital city, whose origin goes back to 1750 as port for the storage and subsequent shipment of leathers and other products of cattle raisers, given the strategic geographical position that possessed, quickly grew in population and was the second city of the country until very entered the 20th century, had the second hospital of the country, and important buildings. 

The C.I.P.U.P (Intersectorial Overseas Port  Paysandú Commissions) aims to prompt the reactivation of the zone and of the county through the generation of work, of the user companies, as well as other neighbour companies. 

Overseas quay: 
Maximum length 100 m, wide 17.70mts. structure of concrete reinforced with vertical and cross beams.  Six bitts of cast iron Depth:  6.60 m. to 0 (22 feet)
Crane of five tons
Retaining Wall of 250 m. of length in the extreme south

Quay of coastal traffic:
Maximum length 300 mts, wide 13 m. from the edge of the wall to the winger of the warehouses.  Nine bitts of cast iron.
Depth 4 m to 0 (13 feet)

In the quay is being installed the laid out for railways and cranes of three tons.

Installations:
Two warehouses of 80 m long and 20 m  wide and 9 m of height each one, in working conditions.  Adjacent to the other warehouses, an open area with an useful surface of approximately three hectares.
Automatic scale with capacity for 60 tons.

Woods sawed in rolls and in chips
containers
Natural Resources (supply of electric power, drinking water, etc)
Liquid and solid Bulks
Flammable
Citrus

Port of Salto
The county of Salto is located in the North Seaboard, covering an area of 14.360 Km² and including a population of 117.600 inhabitants.  It limits to the north with the county of Artigas, to the east with the counties of Rivera and Tacuarembó, to the South with the county of Paysandú and to the West with the Uruguay River who separates us from Argentina.
His particular limits are: to the north the stream Yacuy, the stream Las Cavas, a dividing line, Stream Ceballos, River Arapey Chico, to the east  Cleaver of Haedo, Cleaver of Arbolito, Tips of the River Queguay Grande. To the south Cleaver of Arbolito, river Daymán to the estuary in the Uruguay River.  To the west the Uruguay River.

The county of Salto was created in the year 1837; and the city in 1756.  It raises in one of the most beautiful spots of the Uruguay River, at a short distance of the leaps that that river forms, called Salto Grande and Salto Chico and therefore its denomination.  Its capital (SALTO) is 495 km away from Montevideo by route 3 "Gral.  José Artigas".  Its population according to the data supplied by the Census of Population and Dwelling of 1996 reaching to the quantity of 98.000 inhabitants. 

Location
The Port of Salto is located in the city of Salto, in the county of the same name and 13 kilometers downstream of the hydroelectric dam, in the coastal path and next to the North side of the estuary of the stream Ceibal.
It counts on a quay of reinforced concrete, built in the years 1928/1931.
It is oriented to 010º - 190º in longitudinal direction to the river and has 140 meters long and 16,50  wide. 
It is almost in right angle (098º) with the  river  and on the North side, there is the retaining wall, that is also quay of access.