River Parana Draft
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.
National Holidays: Next National Holiday, Monday, October 12th.
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, August 28th until Monday 0800 hrs, August 31st)
* HQ Buenos Aires:
Manuel Garcia Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4554
Gabriel Malagrino +54 9 11 5578 4559
* Upriver:
Walter Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681
Agustin More +54 9 11 3156 1677
Grain Surveyors strike: The grain surveyors union (URGARA) had called out a nationwide strike as from Friday August 28th 0000 hours until Saturday August 29th 1200 hours. The Government has called for Mandatory Truce and the Union will comply with the instruction. The strike has been lifted for 15 days.
River Parana Draft/Hidrovia: Nothing indicates that the present situation will change during the short term. Estimates of the maximum sailing draft from Upriver Ports (San Lorenzo/Timbues) south are still in the order of 9.80 meters (+/- 0.30 meters). It must be pointed out that the present draft is the result of hard work that is being undertaken by Hidrovia who are working steadily to clear the shallow passes on the River Parana. As an interesting point of reference it is worth mentioning that according to their contract the obligation to maintain the draft at 34 feet 00 inches (10.36 meters) FW ceases when the River level at Rosario drops below 2.47 meters. Today the River level at Rosario stands at 0.65 meters.
Markets: Vietnam has delayed maize imports that were scheduled to load September dates back to October and November.
Argentina Sunflower seed: The forecast for the 2020/2021 sowing area has been reduced by 200 mil hectares to 1,5 million hectares. This is due to the drought that is affecting Central and Northeastern Argentina.
Discharge of Scrubbers in Argentina: A further regulation was issued today August 25th that clarifies the areas that are covered by the prohibition to discharge washing waters from scrubbers of National and Foreign vessels in Argentine waters detailed as:
*Internal Jurisdictional Waters (including River Parana, River Uruguay and River Plate)
*Territorial Waters (12 mile limit)
*Extended Territorial waters (24 mile limit)
*Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (200 mile limit)
The map below broadly shows the limits of the areas covered by the regulation which are colored light blue.
(Argentine Territorial and Exclusive Economic Area as published by the Foreign Affairs Ministry)
Special care will have to be taken by vessels transiting the area, especially between Recalada and the Pacific Ocean.
Crew changes Uruguay: On and Off signing crew are allowed entry into the country under very strict restrictions. On signers must have a prior negative Covid 19 test 72 hours prior being allowed entry. Crew members boarding are not allowed to stop at any stage between landing at the airport (Montevideo) and boarding the vessel. Once onboard the vessel they must comply with a 14 day quarantine onboard before being allowed to work. Departing crew must proceed directly from the vessel to the airport. Considering that there are at the moment few international flights these requirements make it very difficult for crew members to enter or leave the country. Additionally to this before a boarding crew member is allowed permit of entry the agreement of Sanitary Authority, Immigration and CoastGuard must be obtained.
The best way of achieving a successful crew change at Uruguay is to have the vessel do this OUTBOUND at Recalada/Montevideo anchorage when the vessel’s schedule is not bound so much by weather and port congestions.
Arroyo Seco-Lagos/Dreyfus berths: The CoastGuard have issued a regulation, valid as from August 06th, that the maximum sailing draft for both Dreyfus berths, Dry and Liquid, is to be calculated according to the following formula: 9.20 meters Depth Plus Average River level of Rosario and Villa Constitución Minus 0.60 meters under keel clearance.
For today, August 27th it is: 9.16 meters (30 feet 00 inches FW)
Recalada: Recalada closes often due to swell, fog and high winds.
Necochea: The port opened on August 21st at 0720 hours. It had been closed since August 18th at 1810 hours due to swell and high winds.
Necochea: All vessels arriving must comply with a 14 day quarantine. The 14 days are counted from the date of departure from the last port of call.
Bahia Blanca: Pilotage service is suspended for short periods time due to bad weather.
Bahia Blanca is imposing a 14 day quarantine on arriving vessels. This quarantine can be excepted if the terminal where the vessel will load produces proof that an earlier berthing is required. Also an agreement with the stevedores union that adequate precautionary measures will be taken to satisfy the workers attending onboard so as to avoid contagion.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
For more information