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The Rivers of the Amazon attract an ever increasing amount of international investments

The economic development of the Amazon is strictly tied to its numerous rivers, an extensive river system that was and continues to be the gateway to that vast region and for a variety of business opportunities, which attract the attention of international investors from the major shipping and tourism companies from all over the world.

The economic development of the Amazon flows through these waters, initially in small boats that transport an intense regional trade between the rural areas and the large cities of the region. Today, the flow of large ships is increasing not only at the mouth of the Amazon, but also beyond into its numerous tributaries. This traffic is the result of the ever increasing importance of the Amazon and its innumerous economic possibilities.

Teams work on a 24-hour basis to give support to professional pilots.

The increase in the flow of vessels is just beginning and should never diminish. Navigating in these waters, however, requires the knowledge and experience of a professional to maneuver and conduct large ships through these rivers with their narrow and unstable channels. That professional person is the Pilot. He has a profound knowledge of the peculiarities of the rainy season, the seasonal movement of sand banks, the updating of nautical charts and all the details and risks that this activity represents. Pilotage has increasingly become professionalized due to the growth in the demand for their services and the level of difficulty of navigating in the region. This is shown not only by the increase in the number of ships but also by the greater risks arising from the handling of hazardous materials such as fuels, fertilizers or chemicals. Moreover, due to the modernization of ships, the international law requires that Pilots be updated in regard to new technologies.

Praticagem da Bacia Amazônica Oriental Ltda. - UNIPILOT (Eastern Amazon Basin Pilot Services Ltd.) is one of the companies providing pilotage services for the rivers of the Amazon. Its area of operation extends from the mouth of the Amazon from Barra Norte all the way west along the Amazon River region up to the town of Itacoatiara.

Along a total extension of over 1,500 nautical miles of navigation, UNIPILOT now has, in its staff of Pilots, professionals of the highest value and experience who are renowned worldwide for their high level of expertise and technical knowledge of a region that is so extensive that includes the rivers of the eastern Amazon basin. Only in one of its Pilotage sections, ranging from Fazendinha, located in the State of Amapá, as far as the port of Itacoatiara in the State of Amazonas, UNIPILOT services stretch out along 600 nautical miles of navigation, which is equivalent to some 60 hours of ship travel time up the river, using two Pilots, each working six-hour shifts. For another stretch that runs from Fazendinha to the Munguba Port Complex, the Pilots from UNIPILOT cover 150 nautical miles in 12 hours.

At the Atalaia de Fazendinha Pilot Station, UNIPILOT has motorboats for boarding and disembarking Pilots

At the Atalaia de Fazendinha Pilot Station, in the State of Amapá, there is a group of bilingual professionals on 24-hour duty.

Today UNIPILOT has a modern fleet of motor boats specially adapted for Pilot boarding of ships and disembarking.

The need for constant monitoring of ships has led to installing of a modern automatic identification system (AIS), that shows on computer screens the identification and exact location of the ships sailing in the UNIPILOT area of operations at that moment. The system was developed to assist navigation safety by providing an accurate identification of vessels. AIS is being used in the most modern ports in the world.

The relationship between UNIPILOT and the Maritime Authority goes far beyond a mere partnership. Our Pilots are truly agents for the Authority, informing on all problems verified on board ships and preventing those ships found to be non-compliant with safety standards and are potentially polluting from operating in our region. It is also our employees’ obligation to cooperate in rescue and salvage work and assist the Navy Department in monitoring and maintaining conditions for safe navigation, especially in ports and their accesses, and especially in regard to nautical signalization.

The world’s largest Pilotage Zone

The Cargil Port, in Santarém, is one of the many ports located in the largest Pilotage Zone in the world

In the section between Fazendinha and Porto Trobetas, the Pilots on board cover an area of 432 nautical miles, nearly 800 kilometers, up river and take 42 hours. It is the longest pilotage zone in the world with over 2,000 ships a year being guided through waters that range from Barra Norte and the South Channel to Fazendinha in the State of Amapá; from Mosqueiro, in Belém (Pará State) to Breves, on Marajó Island; and from Fazendinha (Amapá State) to Santarém (Pará); from Porto Trombetas to the Munguba Port Terminal on the Jari River; and finally to such distant locations as Parintins to Itacoatiara in the State of Amazonas. The Eastern Amazon Basin Pilots serve innumerous Brazilian and International clients, in a wide range of services.

All along the riverfronts of the Municipality of Breves, Pará, there are exporters of timber for a 150-mile stretch starting in Mosqueiro. Another route that is used for navigation is between Espardarte and Fazendinha, going past Barra Norte for 300 nautical miles, or passing through the South Channel along 230 nautical miles. Other routes of navigation are: from Fazendinha to the Munguba Port Terminal on the Jari River, where there is intense industrial activity that includes the importing of chemical products and exporting of kaolin and paper pulp. From Fazendinha to Santarém for the Docks Company of Pará and the Cargill Port for exporting soy beans, corn, timber and a tourist terminal. We are also present in the course from Fazendinha to Porto Trombetas, where one of the world’s largest bauxite producers, Mineração Rio do Norte, is located. On the longest course, from Fazendinha to Itacoatiara, there are terminals for exporting timber, corn, soy beans and soy oil, and fertilizer importers. On each trip, UNIPILOT pilots travel over many kilometers, from their homes to airports and ports, many times in between two state capitals to attend to calls from ships. Then, they go navigating over innumerous nautical miles guiding, protecting and guaranteeing navigational safety throughout the world’s largest pilotage area.

The responsibility and commitment of UNIPILOT to the development of the region and the safety of the rivers in the Amazon has led us to continuously invest in the training of our pilots and administrative staff, so as to ensure the highest level of navigation safety. This inspires confidence in our work as specialists in Amazon Basin navigation for our clients and all those that depend on this type of activity.