November 11th 2021
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.
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, November 12th, until Monday, 0800 hrs, November 15th)
– HQ Buenos Aires:
Manuel García Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4559
Gastón Nicolás Cabrera +54 9 11 6434 1673
– 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 Holiday: Monday, November 22nd, 2021
River Parana draft: At the present moment the River Parana at Upriver ports is enjoying the tail end of a surge of water that has come down from Brazil. As from now the draft will be returning to values in the order of 8.50 meters with occasional short term improvements. All this in accordance with the forecast issued by INA (National Water Institute). Rainfall over the Parana River catchment area is forecast for the coming days, but as said before these are still early days to allow for a more accurate report.
Crew changes in Argentina/Plate: The Argentine Government, both the Immigration Department and the Sanitary Border Control Authority have specified that crew changes are now permitted under the following terms: Boarding crew members must have the following Covid-19 related tests performed in order to enter the country and board vessels:
*Full vaccination performed at lest 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.
Departing crew members will have to conform to the same requirements as boarding crew.
i.e. Full vaccination or else the 7 days quarantine plus the negative PCR test prior authorization to leave.
What remains for the moment is for the Sanitary Authorities at each port to designate the “safe corridors” for crew members to access and depart from vessels.
As these areas are designated we will advise.
Bunkers in Argentina: At the present time the principal bunker delivery areas in Argentina and the Plate area are Zona Comun and Buoy 11, Bahia Blanca Roads. Bunker suppliers mention that sales are brisk and all are busy. The traders and physical suppliers at Zona Comun are various but Bahia Blanca is monopolized by Trafigura who are the only physical suppliers although they do sell via brokers. The area which is no longer a market is Recalada/Zone Alfa which used to be supplied from Montevideo, Uruguay. The only petroleum refinery in Uruguay in owned by the State run company, Ancap, and it does not produce Very Low Sulphur as required by the maritime market. The fuel oil available from the refinery is High Sulphur and it is sold to the paper mills for their own use.
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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