THE PILOT STATION’S PROJECT IS A HUGE INCENTIVE TO DEVELOPING METEO-OCEANOGRAPHIC STUDIES IN THE NORTH BAR

In an interview with Rumos Práticos, Vice Admiral Edgar Luiz Siqueira Barbosa, commander of the 4th Naval District, evaluates the progress of the dynamic draft project in the North Bar and highlights its importance for the increase in safe distribution of freight through the North Arc.

RUMOS PRÁTICOS: How important is the dynamic draft project in the North Bar for the economy and the region??

At this stage of the project, data collection and, consequently, their analysis will enable us to improve tide studies (astronomical and meteorological). From such studies it will be possible to optimize navigation, resulting in cutting transportation costs in the North Bar, by safely increasing the draft and therefore the amount of shipping freight.

RP: What is your assessment of the project so far?

Since the region has the world’s largest river discharge, it is unique because of its environmental complexity, taking a long time to collect environmental data, and requiring the scientific community’s creativity to complete this collection. The project so far has proven how important is the national industry’s participation in providing buoys for the North Bar.

RP: When will the start-up of the Brazilian Navy’s marigraph be expected? Is it a condition for resuming the trials or, while this doesn’t happen, can the Navy make use of the pilot station’s marigraph data?

The Navy’s marigraph is expected to be installed during the last quarter of the year, on occasion of the next hydrographic survey to be performed in Canal Grande do Curuá. With regard to the data collected by the pilot station’s tide equipment, they will be analyzed by the Navy, and it is worth mentioning that it is a conditioning factor for continuing the trials of ships sailing through the North Bar.

RP: Are these natural phenomena in the region a challenge to the project?

The project’s major drawback is to adapt the existing technologies to the characteristics of the mouth of the Amazon River. Not only with data procurement but also with their online transmission. Another existing challenge is vandalism to the equipment, interrupting the environmental data collection.

RP: Do you believe it’s still possible to validate the 11.90m draft this year?

It’s not possible to predict a date or final height of the draft, at this moment. Everything will depend on the results of the shipping trials for the drafts stipulated in the 4 th Naval District Ordinance that regulates navigation of ships with a draft of 11.90m or less in the Canal Grande do Curuá, since the safety of navigation is paramount for continuing the trials and defining the draft.

RP: Is there anything else you would like to highlight about the project?

The project submitted by the pilot station is a huge incentive to developing meteo-oceanographic studies in the North Bar, contributing together with the Maritime Authority to navigation safety.