encalhe

Encalhe is a noun in Portuguese that denotes the event or condition of being grounded. The term is most commonly used in nautical contexts to describe a vessel that has run aground on a sandbank, reef, or other shallow obstruction, becoming immobilized. Encounters with weather, navigation errors, or mechanical failures can lead to encalhe, which typically requires towage, dredging, or salvage operations to refloat the ship. Depending on the severity, an encalhe can cause delays, environmental risks, and significant economic costs for shipping companies and port authorities.

Beyond nautical usage, encalhe is also employed metaphorically to indicate a stalemate, bottleneck, or blockage that prevents progress in a project, supply chain, or decision-making process. For example, a customs backlog could be described as an encalhe of goods at the border.

Etymology and usage notes: the noun derives from the verb encalhar, meaning to run aground. The term is widely used across formal and technical registers, though it remains common in media reports about shipping and in business language to describe impediments to progress.