Operations at the main cargo terminal in the city of Porto Velho, capital of the state of Rondônia, were temporarily halted as of this Monday (23).
The reason is due to the extreme drought of the Madeira River, which reached 25 centimeters during the early hours of the morning in Porto Velho: the lowest level ever observed in history.
Shipowners and port operators halted their activities due to the navigability conditions on the Madeira River.
The port is managed by the Rondônia Ports and Waterways Society (SOPH).
Activities should only resume when the river level rises and navigation is safe.
With the stoppage, cargo movement is affected, especially on the stretch between Rondônia and Amazonas.
The river transports solid bulk cargo (such as corn and soybeans), liquid bulk cargo (such as asphalt and biofuel), and general cargo, such as food, beverages, and vehicles.
According to the National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT), the river waterway is one of the most important transportation routes in the North region: it is over 1,000 km² in navigable area.
According to SOPH, during the dry season, cargo movement at the port usually suffers a reduction of up to 60%.
However, in recent months the situation has become atypical, to the point of halting activities.
In normal months, the port moves around 200 thousand tons of goods.
For September, the initial forecast was 100 thousand tons, a volume that, according to the Port administration, will be frustrated due to the water crisis.

Source: Amazon Agency