Upriver Draft & Strikes in Argentina
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: December 24th noon onwards and December 25th. Also December 31st noon and January 01st 2021. The Government announced that Thursday 24th and Thursday 31st will be holidays for State employees. On this basis overtime will be due for Customs, Immigration, Senasa and such.
Strikes in Argentina: The strike which remains ongoing has now been extended for a further 24 hours as from today 22nd pm. The parties involved do not seem to interested in coming to an agreement before Christmas. The basis for the strike is a wage dispute with, principally, the workers of the oil seed crushing factories. Vessels at Recalada anchorage waiting to load are reported to be in the order of 140. Vicentin berth, at the time of sending this report, has 12 vessels anchored at Recalada holding out for the strike to end. The congestion is not only vessels. At the railway yard in Bahia Blanca there are 30 locomotives and 1,400 wagons waiting to be discharged.
It must be stressed that some grain terminals are working. Those on the list below marked in BLACK are loading normally and there have been cases of vessels that had been declared to load at strike bound berths being shifted to those, have loaded and left. This is specially an alternative for vessels loading grains (wheat and maize).
Renova – Not working. Vessel alongside at South Berth.
LDC Timbues – Not working. Vessel alongside
Cofco – Not working. Vessel alongside
ACA Timbues – Working. Berth free
AGD Timbues – Not working. Berth free
Profertil – Working. Vessel alongside
Minera Alumbrera – Not working. Berth free
Terminal 6 – Not working. Berth free
Arauco – Not working. Berth free
Quebracho – Not working. Berth free
TFA – Working. Berth free
Cofco PGSM – Not working. Vessel alongside
ADM PGSM – Working. Berth free.
Pampa and Dempa – Not working. Berth free
ACA – Working. Vessel alongside
Vicentin – Not working. Berth free
San Benito – Not working. Vessel alongside
TPR – Working. Vessel alongside
Unidad 6 y 7 – Working. Vessel alongside at Unidad VI
Cargill VGG – Not working. Berth free
Cargill Punta Alvear – Not working. Vessel alongside
Ldc Lagos – Not working. Berth free
ADM Arroyo Seco – Working. Vessel alongside
Necochea: Two vessels in port. Both working normally.
Bahia Blanca: All grain loading operations were interrupted by Grain Surveyors Union. ADM has reached an agreement and it’s loading berth if working.
Quebracho, San Lorenzo: Scheduled maintenance date during December to be re-confirmed once strikes are lifted.
Scheduled maintenance from January 25th till February 07th 2021.
San Nicolas, New Port, South side: The Port Administration has announced that the closure of the berth for survey work has now been moved ahead to January 2021. Dates to be confirmed.
San Nicolas, Puerto Buitrago, TERNIUM berth: The Ternium berth at San Nicolas (Puerto Buitrago) has again put back the dredging to the period between December 28 and January 04th.
Pilot boat strike: The crews of the pilot boats remain on strike as from December 1st night. Because the service is interrupted the CoastGuard will cover the service with their own vessels/cutters.
Flag Waivers Argentina/Brazil: The Government put aside the requirement that vessels needing a flag waiver for cargoes between Argentina and Brazil be nominated 21 days prior commencement of the laycan. This is a very unusual move because the Government has moved directly against the vested interests that were profiting from this requirement.
Crew changes Argentina: The borders remain closed and crew changes are not permitted. Despite earlier optimism plans to restart internal flights as from October 01st have been postponed until further notice. On this basis it is difficult to be optimistic regarding the opening of the border restrictions and regular international flights within the coming weeks. The Immigration Department have reviewed the situation, but for the moment there will be no changes.
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.
Crew changes Chile: Chilean colleagues have supplied us with the following detail to proceed for crew changes in Chile:
Kindly note a protocol has been issued to allow crew changes while our borders are still closed for non Chilean citizens, here you will find requiring points to be complied with:
OFF SIGNERS
Authorities are allowing for crew members to disembark and take their flights from Chile to their final destinations with following conditions:
• Providing all information about the intended disembarking to the Health, Maritime, Migration Authorities via Agency at least 72 hours in advance including names, citizenship, passport number, name of vessel, and full repatriation flight schedule (attached file with data requested).
• Completing a 14 days quarantine period on board in good health condition since the vessel sailed from the last foreign port prior to disembarking in Chile.
• Submitting the on-line affidavit for travelers to prevent Coronavirus diseases (attached).
• Not presenting any symptoms of COVID19 (Health Service may order a health check at any time)
• Moving directly from the disembarking port to the airport or designated sanitary residence (in case 14 days of quarantine not completed). Max. period permitted in the hotel is 5 days.
• Wearing personal health protection items such as face mask, face shield, gloves and hand sanitizer while in our country.
ON SIGNERS
Before trip
We need to send to Ministry of Transport a few points (attached file with data requested).
Once received and double checked, they will send the approval to Consulate where joiner will come from.
The crew member must going personally to the respective Consulate, for taking a picture, fingerprint.
If all going well, the consulate will notify to Immigration, Health Service and sanitary borders, that crew member can travel and get in to Chilean territory.
Along with this a safe-conduct document will be provided. This document will be mandatory and must be presented on arrival to Chile.
IMPORTANT: Only crew members who does not require Chilean visa to come to Chile can apply to safe-conduct.
Once arrived to Chile.
At any time, must wear facial mask and carry own protective items for COVID-19
Immigration would check that all documents are in order, if so, will be provided the SHORE PASS (crew member immigration card).
The Health Inspector will make an evaluation of crew health, if do not have any symptom of COVID 19, her entry will be granted.
In case to have any symptom or to result positive in the preliminary Covid test, would be isolated and the entry would be denied.
Transportation from International airport to the port must be exclusive. So, domestic flights are not permitted and either intercity buses service (commercial).
Also important for both, on signers and off signers, is to have tentative flight schedule (complete route), this is necessary to start formalities with authorities.
We estimate about 5-7 business days to complete formalities.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
For more information