Upriver Ports & Harvest
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, September 11th until Monday 0800 hrs, September 14th)
* HQ Buenos Aires:
Manuel García Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4559
Malcolm Dickson +54 9 11 5578 4558
* Upriver:
Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681
Agustin More +54 9 11 6656 1677
Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
National Holidays: Next National Holiday, Monday, October 12th.
River Plate pilotage fees: The River Plate pilotage has been increased for vessels in and outbound from Recalada to Zona Comun and vice versa. The increase is related to a 35 per cent tax being levied by the Argentine Government on expenses incurred abroad, in this case Uruguay, for launch services at Recalada anchorage. The extra cost is on a lumpsum basis below:
USD 840.00 for dry vessels inbound
USD 980.00 for dry vessels outbound
USD 980.00 for tankers inbound
USD 980.00 for tankers outbound
This translates into about 5 per cent additional on the pilotage fees.
The increase will be implemented as from October 01st.
HSS Grain Harvest 2020/2021: On Wednesday 23rd the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange held the launch of the HSS sowing season. Expectations and forecasts for the season are similar, although with slightly lower yield, than 2019/2020. The projection stands at 47 million tons of maize and 46.7 million tons of soya beans. The area to be sown for sorghum is expected to increase due to the potential for an increased demand. Sorghum is applied mainly for animal fodder. Yet the destination of the grains is hard to forecast because of the uncertainty brought on by the Covid-19 recession. Soyabean to be crushed is expected to be in the range of 39.8 million tons, slightly lower than 2019/2020. This mainly due to a change in demand for soya meal brought on by the Covid 19 pandemic.
There was also an long term analysis about the foreseeable weather prospects. Spring and summer (Southern Hemisphere) over North-Central Argentina, is expected to be wetter than usual due to a building up of a La Niña over the Pacific Ocean. At the same time this will encourage a return to better flow of water to the River Parana.
Open loop scrubbers: The San Lorenzo Coast Guard have instructed that all vessels equipped with open loop scrubbers arriving in their jurisdiction be reported to them prior arrival.
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.
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.
Necochea: The port opened again on September 22nd at 1155 hours. It had been closed since Saturday September 19th at 0530 hours. If the weather forecast proves correct the port may close over the coming weekend due to strong storms.
Necochea: All vessels arriving must comply with a 14 day quarantine. The 14 days are counted from the date of departure from the last foreign port of call, regardless of having Free Practique issued at a previous port of call in Argentina within the 14 day period.
Bahia Blanca: The 14 day quarantine for incoming vessels will be waived for vessels whose last port of call is Brazil. Nevertheless the previous regulation for other last ports of call will remain in place. This quarantine can be excepted if the terminal where the vessel will load produces proof that an earlier berthing is required.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
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