en.Wedoany.com Reported - The "AAL Hamburg" (IMO 9958767) departed from Terminal Puerto Rosario (TPR) in Argentina on Monday evening (6th), completing the unloading of 12 barges for the LHG Mining logistics project. This operation marked the company's 10th similar shipment and the first to be carried out at an Argentine terminal, with results exceeding expectations.
Pablo Zengarini, an international logistics expert at LHG Mining, told Altamar News that as the first cargo operation of this kind for the project, performance was quite good. While there is room for improvement, the overall outcome was better than anticipated. He noted that the vessel transported 12 barges, along with four barge covers, which were installed on two of the barges during transit.
Despite the positive assessment, the company has not yet determined whether the next unloading (expected in early August) will take place again in Rosario or return to the port of Nueva Palmira in Uruguay. The final decision will depend on an evaluation of operational factors in the coming weeks. According to Zengarini, the "AAL Hamburg" is expected to return from the ports of Salvador and Belém in Brazil around August 4, heading to one of the two terminals.
Nueva Palmira remains the preferred option. The choice of Rosario this time was driven by specific operational needs and does not represent a definitive change in the company's logistics strategy. The company aims to assess whether Argentine ports can offer more competitive turnaround times and advantages due to their closer proximity to Corumbá, the primary destination for the barges. The main reason for seeking alternatives is the potential delays when the southern terminal of Nueva Palmira is occupied by other cargoes such as fertilizers or grains, as waiting times for project vessels can result in significantly higher costs for the company.
Zengarini analyzed that this experience will help confirm whether Rosario can serve as a backup option when operational conditions at the Palmira terminal do not allow for immediate handling. However, he reiterated that as long as the Uruguayan port's schedule permits, Nueva Palmira will remain the first choice.
TPR expressed its willingness to participate from the very beginning of the project. Zengarini explained that TPR authorities indicated their readiness to cooperate from the outset and worked jointly with the company to facilitate the first operation. The addition of these barges is part of a logistics expansion plan launched by LHG Mining in November 2025, which aims to add 400 barges and tugboats by 2028, with the goal of doubling the existing fleet size and strengthening the integration between mining activities and large-scale river transport.
