April 21st – Grains and Markets 2022


April 21st 2022

Grains and Markets 2022

ANTARES: We attach to this News a flyer with the full detail of all our staff and offices for your ready reference.

Week end duty staff: (Thursday April 14th am, until Monday April 18th 2022, 0800 hrs)

– HQ Buenos Aires:

Gastón Cabrera +54 9 11 5578 4556

Horacio Vazquez +54 9 11 5578 4554

– Upriver:

Agustin More +54 9 11 6656 1677

Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681

Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680


National Holidays: Sunday May 01st, May Day

River Parana Draft Forecast as per INA Report:

DRAFT FORECAST (Calculated as per Current Shallowest Points Apr 18 2022)

Under certain conditions, when Rosario and San Lorenzo are under a surge that does not reach San Nicolas, then the bar located near to San Nicolas will act as the bottleneck to all upriver ports (Rosario and San Lorenzo).

Grains and Markets 2022:
The sunflower seed harvest has been declared completed by the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange. The total harvest amounts to the forecast 3.3 million tons.
First estimates for the coming 2022/2023 wheat season are available. The forecast for sowing area is 6.5 million hectares. This is slightly down from the previous season (2021/22) which reached an all time high of 6.7 million hectares. The reduction is believed to be caused partly by the increased prices of fertilizers. Yields, as always, depend entirely on further factors.
China has purchased 13 Panamax cargoes out of ECSA for shipment during April/May.

Ballast Water Reporting:
The CoastGuard have advised that as from now they will be resuming Ballast Water inspections on vessels arriving in Argentina. The inspections are mainly carried out once at the loading port roads. Masters must take special care when preparing ballast water reports. We will gladly assist them with this.

Bahia Blanca stevedores:
Stevedores are stopping work for one to two hours during each six-hour shift in protest claiming a Covid-19 bonus. This action has now been ongoing for a few weeks.

ACA Berth, San Lorenzo:
The ACA berth in San Lorenzo is limited to maximum 180 meters LOA due to a navigation accident during late February. Although work is underway to repair the damage it is not yet known when this expected to conclude.


ARGENTINA – Crew changes:

Regulations for Crew Changes are being relaxed in almost all major Ports (except Necochea),

ANTARES: We attach to this News a but for Nationals(*) needing VISA

the process is still quite long.

Process for Crew Change:

1.Prior boarding authorization must be obtained from the Sanitary Authority and afterwards from Immigration.
2.Joining and departing crew must have full vaccination scheme completed (two doses) 48 hours prior joining or departing vessel.
3.A sworn statement must be signed.
4.Joining and departing crew that do NOT have the full vaccination scheme must have an antigen test performed not more than 48 hours prior or a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior joining or departing the vessel.
5.Joiner/s must enter Argentina via a “designated safe corridor” (Buenos Aires International Airport).
6.Requests for visas to be issued at Consulates must be presented to Immigration offices, via Agents on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
7.Immigration will issue the requested visas three days after they were requested and deliver on Tuesday and Thursdays for forwarding to Consulates.
Estimated Time for On Signers without needing VISA: 5/7 (five/seven) days
Estimated Time for On Signers needing VISA: 10 (ten) days
Estimated Time for Off Signers: 5 (five) days

PLEASE CONTACT US PRIOR COMMENCING PROCEDURES.

(*) Passport Required VISA Full List

Crew changes made at foreign port/s 14 days prior arrival at Argentine ports:

Besides many other documents and certificates, these below are of special concern:

-Owner’s Crew changes protocol at foreign countries.

-Owner’s note (with signature and stamp of the Captain and Owners company) clarifying that the crew change was carried out taking all due precautions, etc.

-Medical certificate issued by certified professional in the country where the crew joined, not the country of origin.

-Covid test, PCR, for on-signers at port of boarding (not country of origin).

Lacking any of above (besides all usual documents) pilots will not be allowed to board until a 14-day period is counted starting from the moment the last crew-member has boarded.

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,

Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.

For more information

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