A pioneering US$51m project in Brazil will see the transport of logs switched from road to sea.
Ocean-going barges will carry logs from Aracruz’s Bahia plantation to its private port, Portocel – a distance of about 150 miles which should result in savings of around 15% and reduce the environmental impact from road transport. Each barge can transport up to 5,000 tons, the equivalent to the hauling capacity of 100 trucks.
Transport manager Fabio Velloso said: ‘The use of ocean-going barges to carry logs is a pioneering project that makes sense from both an economic and a safety viewpoint.
‘The barge system is inherently less expensive than truck transport and, equally as important, it will significantly reduce the number of logging trucks on the main highway, making it safer for communities along the route.’
