en.Wedoany.com Reported - The AAL Hamburg (IMO 9958767) arrived at the Port of Rosario, Argentina, on Thursday morning (2nd) to conduct its tenth barge unloading operation, assessing the port's feasibility as an alternative logistics hub for the mining sector. This operation is of a testing nature, aimed at verifying whether the Port of Rosario can handle project cargo loading and unloading under specific conditions.
Pablo Zengarini, an international logistics expert at LHG Mining, told Altamar News that the vessel is carrying 12 barges and four barge hatch covers, two of which have been installed inside two barges. The choice of the Port of Rosario was based on the company's operational needs, aiming to test whether the port can provide suitable working hours and leverage the logistical advantages of being closer to Corumbá, the barges' primary destination. Zengarini analyzed that seeking alternatives is primarily to avoid potential delays at the Port of Nueva Palmira, especially when the south dock is occupied by other cargoes such as fertilizers or grains, as such waiting times incur significantly higher costs for the company. This test will help the company determine whether Rosario can serve as a "Plan B" when Nueva Palmira is unavailable for immediate operations. However, Zengarini clarified that, as long as scheduling permits, this Brazilian mining company will still prioritize the Uruguayan port.
The Port of Rosario's interest in this project is not recent. After learning about the project, port authorities expressed willingness to cooperate and worked jointly with the company to facilitate the first operation. Zengarini noted that this unloading is also a new endeavor for the Port of Rosario. The port's business primarily focuses on containers, agricultural products, and industrial goods, and such project cargo operations are unprecedented for the terminal.
Future operations at the Port of Rosario will depend on the evaluation conducted by LHG Mining after the unloading is completed. The company will analyze factors such as operation time, logistics performance, and benefits, deciding the destination port for subsequent cargoes on a case-by-case basis. The executive also stated that activating a new port involves complex processes including permits, documentation, personnel coordination, and advance planning. Given the short interval between the vessel's departure from the shipyard and its arrival on the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, preparatory work has already been initiated in advance.
This addition of barges is part of LHG Mining's gradual expansion plan. According to the plan, the company will add 400 barges and tugboats by 2028, thereby doubling its current fleet size. The plan aims to strengthen the integration between mining activities and large-scale inland waterway logistics. The first 16 barges were delivered to Nueva Palmira in November 2025 by the same vessel, AAL Hamburg, and were subsequently transshipped to Corumbá in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to join the iron ore transportation on this waterway corridor.
