March 04th 2021
River Parana Draft & Covid-19 Restrictions
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, March 05th, until Monday, 0800 hrs, March 08th)
* HQ Buenos Aires:
Horacio Vazquez +54 9 11 5578 4554
Gabriel Malagrino +54 9 11 5578 4556
* Upriver:
Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681
Agustin More +54 9 11 6656 1677
Walter Néstor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
We invite you all to visit our webpage which now includes a gallery of pictures and videos of the ports and berths Upriver which we trust will provide better guidance as where your vessel’s call. A PICTURE (AND A VIDEO) PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS.
National Holidays: Wednesday, March 24th. National Memorial Day.
San Lorenzo, Cargill Quebracho berth: The dates during which the berth will be closed for maintenance are now March 12th until March 18th 2021. During this period the berth will not be loading vessels.
Covid-19 Quarantine Restrictions: An update on the quarantine restrictions.
Bahia Blanca: Authorities at Bahia Blanca demand that all vessels proceeding from a foreign port perform a 14 day quarantine before being granted Free Practique and allowed to berth. The 14 days are counted as from the departure date from last port of call. Vessels proceeding from Brazil, Uruguay and Chile can be excepted from this 14 day requirement provided a permit is requested from Port Administration, and upon berthing a fumigation of the living quarters must be performed.
Necochea: At Necochea a 14 day quarantine period for vessels coming from foreign ports is required. Exemption is granted for vessels proceeding from Brazil and Uruguay after a formal request is made to the Port Administration.
River Parana Draft: The River Parana draft forecast for the coming three months, March, April and May, is maintained at the present River level. Allowing an average draft of 10.36 mts, wog.
Situation at Vicentin berth: The berth in San Lorenzo, and the crushing plant owned by Vicentin are today administrated by the Court processing the bankruptcy. It has been contracted to provide oilseed crushing and loading to third parties. At first the only contractor was Diaz & Forti SA until they declared bankruptcy on Feb 11th. Since then the installation is used by ACA (a large local Coop) and by Union Agricola de Avellaneda (a smaller Coop from North Santa Fe). The vessels that are in the line up are then ordered to berth as soon as the cargo is available for each shipper. Some vessels that are in the line up to load for Diaz & Forti have been sent to other berths as the purchasers of the original parcels found other FOB shippers. On this basis the line up for the berth is reported on an arrival basis but the berth becomes available to those that have cargo to load.
Situation at Vicentin berth: The berth in San Lorenzo, and the crushing plant owned by Vicentin are today administrated by the Court processing the bankruptcy. It has been contracted to provide oilseed crushing and loading to third parties. At first the only contractor was Diaz & Forti SA until they declared bankruptcy on Feb 11th. Since then the installation is used by ACA (a large local Coop) and by Union Agricola de Avellaneda (a smaller Coop from North Santa Fe). The vessels that are in the line up are then ordered to berth as soon as the cargo is available for each shipper. Some vessels that are in the line up to load for Diaz & Forti have been sent to other berths as the purchasers of the original parcels found other FOB shippers. On this basis the line up for the berth is reported on an arrival basis but the berth becomes available to those that have cargo to load.
Crew changes Argentina: Situation at Vicentin berth: The berth in San Lorenzo, and the crushing plant owned by Vicentin are today administrated by the Court processing the bankruptcy. It has been contracted to provide oilseed crushing and loading to third parties. At first the only contractor was Diaz & Forti SA until they declared bankruptcy on Feb 11th. Since then the installation is used by ACA (a large local Coop) and by Union Agricola de Avellaneda (a smaller Coop from North Santa Fe). The vessels that are in the line up are then ordered to berth as soon as the cargo is available for each shipper. Some vessels that are in the line up to load for Diaz & Forti have been sent to other berths as the purchasers of the original parcels found other FOB shippers. On this basis the line up for the berth is reported on an arrival basis but the berth becomes available to those that have cargo to load.
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