Punta Chungo (CLPTC)

The port is owned operated by Miner Los Pelambres Ltda, a leading private mining group in Chile. Port facilities are custom built for the loading of copper concentrate which is shipped to foundries around the world. Before being pumped down from the mountains along a 121Km pipeline to Puerto Punta Chungo, the concentrate is mixed with reused water at a Concentration Plant which services a mining area on the border of Argentina in the municipality of Salamanca.

Puerto Punta Chungo is located on the coastal area of Los Vilos in Chile, 100Km from Quintero to the South and 200Km from Guayacan to the North.

The Punta Chungo area has yellow sandy beaches with low level rocks, on which the sea breaks heavily. It provides no shelter for anchorage. Anchoring is not permitted in the area and there are shoals 1 to 1.2nm off the coast and Isla Huevos, 0.65nm NW of the Terminal.

There are depths of from 18.3 to 27.4m in the entrance, decreasing gradually toward the shore. Bajo Chacabuco is a 10m deep are and lies almost 0.7nm NE of the N extremity of Isla Huevos. Bajo Baquedano, an 8.7m area, about 0.2 mile N of Isla Huevos. Bajo O’Higgins, an area approx 10.1m deep located almost 0.3 nm NE of Isla Huevos. Bajo Abtao, a 5m deep area, about 0.3nm offshore, and 0.8nm ENE of Isla Huevos. Bajo Castro, another 5m deep area, lies almost 0.3nm N of the town of Los Vilos and about 0.7nm E of Isla Huevos. Roca Desempeno, a drying rock, and Bajo Lynch, with a depth of 2m, lie 0.6nm and 0.5nm E of the island.

US Chart 22275 and 22261. US Sailing Directions No 125 (West Coast of South America). BA Chart 4235, 4240. Admiralty Pilot NP7, NP286(7). Chilean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) Chart No 4311 (Bahia Conchali Y Puerto Los Vilos).

The dolphin berth runs from West to East in direction, adjacent to the shiploader. Two substantial mooring dolphins are also located 50m NW and 50m NE, off the ends of the radial structure of the shiploader.

Compulsory. The pilot boards within 1,000m of position 31°53'34''S, 71°32'02''W.

A conspicuous white tank is located as part of the Terminal facility. Two lights at a rail facility near the port, are reportedly visible at a distance of approx 10nm from the sea.

Ensenada Quereo is a small bight approx midway between Punta Los Vilos and Punta Lobos, about 2.3nm SSW. The coast between Punta Los Vilos and Punta Lobos is fringed with foul ground which breaks to a distance of about 0.2 mile offshore.

Tugs are available. The berth is located in an open bay with its jetty stretching out from the shoreline. Pacific Ocean tides and currents can be extreme along this coastline, with extreme winds. Vessels may have to be guided in and turned on to the berth by several tugs.

There are Westerly winds during the winter causing heavy swells in Puerto Los Vilos. The sea breaks between Isla Huevos and Isla Blanca and between Isla Huevos and Punta Los Vilos, where it makes a foam which drifts into the bay and gives the appearance of breakers when a large swell is running. Vessels can find shelter in Caleta Nague during NW gales. Fogs are most frequent in the months of October and November, but may also occur in May

..... Port Radio: VHF Ch: 9, 14 and 16. RT Frequency 2182 kHz and 2738 kHz. Tel: 56 53 541104. Fax 56 53 541104. Harbour Master: Tel: 56 53 541104 or 56 53 541417. Fax: 56 53 541104. Email: cplosvilos@directemar.cl Terminal: Tel: 56 2 4452058. Fax: 56 2 4452058.