On a complex four-river system in Suriname, South America, JP Knight transport cargoes of wet bauxite (aluminium ore) over a distance equivalent to four times round the earth every year.

JP Knight (Paranam) Ltd’s fleet consists of four push tugs and nine barges navigating between the loading berth at Coermotibo and the refinery berth at Paranam.

The Suriname, Commewijne, Cottica and Coermotibo river system is tidally restricted and thus logistics play a large part in day to day operations; balancing arrival and departure times, passage speeds and fleet disposition. In addition, the rivers are tortuous, with many sand banks, changing levels and unpredictable river traffic. This places an unusually high demand on navigational skills and requires that the risks are systematically managed. JP Knight identified the ISM* Code as a

means to achieve safer standards and in 1996 became the first tug and barge company in the world to achieve ISM Code compliance.

Now in our fifteenth year of operation in Suriname, JP Knight has a dedicated and skilled team of officers, crews and staff whose knowledge and experience has delivered over 24 million tonnes of bauxite to date.

JP Knight is closely involved in the assessment of the future transport of bauxite reserves in Suriname and provides simulations, proposals and tug/barge concepts for West Suriname and other developments.

Contact us on +44 (0) 1634 826633
or email navigators@jpknight.com

*The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention

Link: Features