New ship unloader at Recife

The so-called Portalino is being operated by Fertimport, the state’s leading grain handling stevedore. Following a trial period, the unloader has been able to achieve handling rates of 300 tonnes per hour, three times that previously reported in the port using either fixed and/or mobile pneumatic unloaders.

Formerly, 25,000 tonne bulk carriers made the journey to Recife from Argentina in seven days, only for unloading to take up to an additional 12 days.

That task is now being completed in five days.