January 21st 2021
Upriver & Crew changes
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, January 22nd until Monday, 0800 hrs, January 25th)
* HQ Buenos Aires:
Malcolm Dickson +54 9 11 5578 4558
Manuel García Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4559
* Upriver:
Sebastián José Ferrara +54 9 11 3156 1679
Franco Gabriel Ostojic +54 9 11 6656 1678
Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
National Holidays: February 15th and 16th, Carnival Holiday.
San Lorenzo, Cargill Quebracho berth: The maintenance at this berth has been re-scheduled for the following periods: As from February 09th until February 23rd 2021 and from March 08th until March 14th 2021. During these periods the berth will not be loading vessels.
Oil Spill Response at Zona Comun: Once again a group of people are pressuring Owners to take coverage for Oil Spill Response on vessels taking bunkers at Zona Comun. The bunker suppliers and the bunker barge Owners were able to prove to the local CoastGuard Station (PNA La Plata) that present arrangements in place were satisfactory. We draw your attention to this so that bunker suppliers absorb any related expense within the sales contract.
Truckers Strike: A Truck Drivers/Owners Union has established road blocks at junctions and access points to some of the ports. This is significantly slowing the entry of cargo to the loading ports and berths, especially at Upriver and Necochea. Court orders have been issued to have the road blocks and pickets lifted. Police may eventually have to use force in case there is any resistance. This could lead to unrest and in certain cases shortage of cargo at some berths. In the meantime no cargo shortage has been reported at any port and vessels have been loading normally.
Speed Limit at Upriver: Vessels navigating between Km 406 and 439 of the River Parana (Rosario Roads until San Lorenzo Southern Roads) must comply with a 9 knot speed limit. The CoastGuard have been very strictly enforcing the speed limit and up to the moment have issued heavy fines to nearly ten vessels for having breached this regulation. It is well worth calling Master’s attention to this.
San Lorenzo, ADM Agro berth: The mv THALASSIC is the first vessel to call at the berth that has recently been updated. Loading has progressed well on her 40,000 tons of maize with an average loading rate of 800 tons per gang (maximum 2 gangs employed). Loading at San Lorenzo is expected to be completed on January 22nd am and the vessel will then proceed to Bahia Blanca for completion. On the basis of this performance, the expected load rate for meal is estimated to be 400 tons per hour, per gang.
PROFERTIL Bahia Blanca: There has been an announcement by the company’s main partner, YPF, that a heavy investment is to be made to increase the production of urea. At this moment, Profertil supplies all the needs for urea fertilizer in Argentina, and at certain times has a surplus which is offered for export, mainly to close international destinations, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. Once the expansion is completed and on-line then Profertil has the expectation to move in to the export market on a permanent basis and become a strong regional player. No dates have yet been mentioned, but a lead time of about two years is expected for the new installation to start functioning. Profertil’s production at the moment is in the order of 1.1 million tons per annum and the expansion will increase by a further 123,000 tons.
Profertil Bahia Blanca today, January 2021
Crew changes Argentina: The borders remain closed and crew changes are not permitted. Internal flights are functioning again but the borders remain closed for crew changes. These restrictive practices are causing problems to vessels calling in Argentina and undue inconveniences to the crews. Local entities and associations are pressuring for resumption of this “normal” activity.
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