New Aids to Navigation in Barranquilla

Colombia’s National Maritime Authority, DIMAR, has renewed the maritime beaconing in Barranquilla, Colombia, as the authority works to continue the homogenization and improvement of the aids to navigation in the country in accordance with IALA requirements, and as part its primary goal of improving safety and security for mariners in Colombian waters.

Almarin has supplied and installed 28 buoys for the Magdalena River and eight shore-based beacons. Included in this project were four buoys for the neighboring Santa Marta Port.

According to Almarin, the buoys for Magdalena River are designed to withstand strong currents (up to six knots) with greater volume, hydrodynamic shape and with a nylon mesh reinforced elastomer skin. The buoys, from Guia W range, are manufactured with a stainless steel tower and a closed cell polyethylene hull, providing robustness, visibility and stability in this river of demanding conditions.

The eight beacons in the riverside, model ALT7 made of stainless steel with concrete bases, provide greater visibility than previous towers and meet IALA requirements, Almarin said.

The complete project has been carried out in collaboration with Almarin’s local partners, INER Consultores and Cenacol, who have provided local logistical support and coordination.

Almarin has worked with DIMAR previously, providing more than 100 buoys in the ports of Cartagena and Buenaventura, as well as the beaconing in islands of San Andres and Providencia.