December 02nd 2021
2022 Harvest
In view of the ongoing developing situation and different communications and instructions being issued by Sanitary Authorities of the Argentine Government we have chosen to send a consolidated daily report at the closing of working hours with an update of the day’s news.
ANTARES: We attach to this News a flyer with the full detail of all our staff for your ready reference. Both for our office in Buenos Aires and for San Lorenzo (Upriver).
Week end duty staff: (Friday noon, December 03rd, until Monday December 06th 0800 hrs)
– HQ Buenos Aires:
Horacio Vazquez +54 9 11 5578 4554
Germán Stoppo +54 9 11 6434 16 4558
– Upriver:
Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681
Agustin More +54 9 11 6656 1677
Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
National Holiday: Wednesday, December 08th, 2021; Saturday, December 25th, 2021 (Christmas Day). It is customary that December 24th (Christmas Eve) is also declared a holiday shortly before the date.
Crew changes in Argentina:
Despite earlier optimism about crew changes the Sanitary Authority has now placed strong restrictions on all persons who travel originating from Africa by air or by vessel. Vessels arriving from Africa will be subject to close scrutiny due to the detection of the “Omicron” variety of the ever-present Covid-19.
This is an ongoing and developing situation.
A cruise vessel which called at Cape Verde Islands few days prior arriving at Buenos Aires on Saturday November 27th was subjected to close scrutiny.
Nevertheless, incoming crew are now allowed to join vessels provided the proper Visa and Sanitary arrangements are made at origin principally as per below:
*Full vaccination performed at least 14 days prior entry to Argentina
*Negative PCR test performed 72 hours prior first boarding
*Antigen test performed upon arrival at “safe entry corridor” point (for example Buenos Aires Airport Ezeiza)
If, in case the boarding crew member does not have full vaccination (minimum 2 doses) before boarding then the person must be kept in quarantine for 7 days and may only leave this quarantine once a negative PCR test is performed.
Crew are allowed to leave vessels on Sanitary grounds. This is understood to be with a medical certificate, issued in Argentina, that certifies the crew member is “unfit for duty onboard”. One reason considered to be “unfit for duty onboard” is in case that due to “severe distress” the crew member cannot perform his duties. Another reason is in case the crew member has an expired work contract and can prove to Sanitary Authority that he cannot wait for the vessel’s next port of call.
Bunkers ZComun/BBlanca: At this moment there is pressure being put on “Authorities” to interrupt the supply of bunkers to vessels that pass through Zona Comun towards completion at Bahia Blanca. This had been the case until the beginning of this year until sufficient counter-pressure returned the situation to normal. Once again interested parties are trying to bring back the restriction.
Maize 2022 harvest: The sowing for the coming Maize season is now underway. The final estimate from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange in regards to the surface for maize is now 7,300,000 hectares. This is an increase of 500,000 hectares over the surface applied for 2021.
Wheat/Argentina: As has been predicted, the market reports that there have been strong sales of Argentine wheat to destinations in North Africa and the Middle East. Reported shipment dates in December and January.
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.
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