A crucial role is played by Muelle Dársena E Sur in Buenos Aires. It serves as a vital link in Argentina’s maritime infrastructure. Muelle Dársena E Sur is located within the larger Puerto de Buenos Aires. This port handles about 60% of the country’s container traffic.
Puerto de Buenos Aires is one of Latin America’s most important ports. It has a modern infrastructure and a high cargo capacity. The port’s history dates back to the late 19th century. Puerto Madero and Dock Sud were constructed then. Expansions continued into the first half of the 20th century with Puerto Nuevo.
Today the port sees around a million TEUs which is twenty-foot equivalent units per year. It also welcomes many passengers. Thousands arrive on cruises. Short trips to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo in Uruguay are also popular.
The Administración General de Puertos manages the port. It is divided into two main sectors. These are Puerto Norte and Puerto Sur. Puerto Norte includes six docks used for port operations. It serves both overseas and domestic ships. The five general cargo port terminals cover about 92 hectares. They have 7250 meters of dock length and 23 berths. These accommodate ships over 300 meters long. The dock depth is 10.05 meters.
Dársena E, where Muelle Dársena E Sur is located is specifically used for unloading railway material. This includes locomotives and oil cargo. There are also storage warehouses. The icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar often docks here.
Muelle Dársena E Sur itself has a length of 175 meters. It has a draft of 10.05 meters. It can accommodate ships up to 134 meters in length. It primarily serves patrol boats. It also provides waste collection services for ships.
The history of Puerto de Buenos Aires is closely tied to Argentina’s national organization. It began in 1536 with Pedro de Mendoza’s expedition. He founded the city of Nuestra Señora del Buen Aire near present-day Parque Lezama. The port and the village grew together.
Juan de Garay later founded the Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad. He also established the Puerto de Santa María del Buen Aires. His motto emphasized the city’s port destiny. It stated the need to open doors to the land. It also said that the soil should flourish. Its fruits should serve its people and other nations.
The city grew quickly and became important for trade with Spanish territories. The port maintained its original basic form until 1607. At that time the first renovations aimed to provide minimal mooring space for unloading ships.
The port’s rise caused concern for the Viceroyalty of Peru. It feared the growing port power of Santa María del Buen Aire. It decided to stop overseas trade from the port. However contraband activity was increasing. The creation of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata opened a new authorized sea route to Spain.
Spain still had a monopoly on goods entering the Viceroyalty. The Spanish Crown forbade trade and port construction. Only the most daring smugglers approached these shores. Things began to change in 1776 when Buenos Aires became the capital of a new viceroyalty.
Turning it into a maritime port was very difficult. The Río de la Plata is extremely challenging to navigate. Even modern ships find it difficult. The technology of the time could barely improve this situation.
In 1806 the British occupied the port during the first of the British Invasions. This was supported by many Buenos Aires aristocrats. They favored the free trade policies imposed by the invaders. However the end of the Spanish port monopoly upset many merchants. Martín de Álzaga a leader of the reconquest of Buenos Aires armed the locals with his smuggling experience.
After the May Revolution in 1810 Mariano Moreno marked the mouth of the Riachuelo. He also repaired its docks. Later he oversaw canalization and cleaning efforts. In 1821 Bernardino Rivadavia requested a comfortable and safe port for Buenos Aires. He was inspired by European port cities.
The Representative Chamber passed the port promotion law on August 22 1821. This led to a series of incomplete reforms. The Port of Buenos Aires has been a site of military and economic conflict more than once. The war with the Empire of Brazil from 1825 to 1828 caused the port’s blockade. This led to two main responses in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
One was establishing a port on the Río Salado. The other was using a complex land route to communicate between Buenos Aires and the army. The army was preparing an offensive in Rio Grande do Sul against the Empire. The land route was vital. The Imperial Brazilian fleet dominated the Río Uruguay.
Today Muelle Dársena E Sur continues to be a functional part of the port. It supports maritime activities in Buenos Aires.