Rio Grande resumes Porto Novo operations after storm, while bunker supply disruption remains unresolved

## Verified facts

A severe storm struck Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, during the early hours of 21 September 2026. Portos RS initially reported significant damage to structures at the Porto Novo terminal, a temporary suspension of operations there, damage at terminals across the complex, and partial closures of Honório Bicalho and Travessa Porto for electrical repairs. It said there was then no consolidated estimate of material damage.

Later the same day, Portos RS issued an update stating that Porto Novo operations would resume from 01:00 on 22 September after initial inspections. The authority said technical teams would continue damage assessment and repairs, while the terminals in the port complex remained in normal operation. This later official update is the clearest available statement on the status of cargo operations.

The municipal government said wind gusts reached 113.7 km/h and that more than 70,000 electricity consumers in Rio Grande remained without power on 21 September. Datamar, citing Rio Grande Bar Pilots, reported that at least five vessels had changes to planned operations and two were awaiting berthing during the disruption.

A separate report by bunker-market specialist ENGINE, citing a Petrobras customer notice issued on 21 September, said barge loading at the Rio Grande terminal had stopped because of a power outage and that the supplier could not then estimate a restart. No later Petrobras notice confirming the resumption of bunker deliveries was located in the sources reviewed. This reported bunker interruption should therefore not be treated as resolved solely because Porto Novo cargo operations restarted.

## Operational assessment — why this matters

The event illustrates the difference between a port-complex operating status and the availability of individual marine services. Portos RS’s restart notice materially reduces the immediate likelihood of a prolonged cargo-handling shutdown. It does not, however, confirm restoration of landside access, electrical resilience at every facility, berth sequencing, pilotage windows, or bunker-barge loading and delivery capacity.

Owners, operators and charterers with Rio Grande calls should obtain current confirmation from agents, terminals, pilots and bunker suppliers before fixing arrival speed, arranging stem dates or relying on pre-storm berth windows. Masters should also ensure that updated port, tug, pilot and terminal instructions are captured in the voyage file. Cargo interests and claims handlers should preserve contemporaneous notices, revised ETAs/ETDs, NOR and berth communications, and records of any fuel or port-service substitutions. The immediate disruption appears limited in duration for Porto Novo, but the continuing repair and power-recovery environment warrants medium-risk monitoring.