April 16th – Upriver Draft

April 16th 2020

Upriver Draft

We wish all our Christian Orthodox friends a very Happy Easter.

These are strange times we are living but we trust you will have a good celebration with all who are dear to you in as much as the situation allows.
Kalo Pascha – Χρήστος Ανέστη – Христос воскрес! – Khristos voskres

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: Next National Holiday is Friday May 01st, Labor Day.

-Covid-19 National Quarantine: The National Quarantine, with severe restrictions on people’s movements is to remain in force until April 26th at the earliest.

-Agriproducts Markets: The requests for export licenses is similar to the last few days. Today licenses were granted for 130,000 mt maize, 100,000 mt wheat, 66,700 mt soyameal, 26,000 mt sorghum and 23,500 mt soyabeans.

-Upriver/Rosario and San Lorenzo: As mentioned in our Circulars end of March the mv AG VALOR still at Rosario with no news about her lightering.

The mv AVICL ARTEMIS was lightered at San Lorenzo Roads, commencing last night, and now with an adequate draft is now proceeding down River. Attached please find pictures of the operation. We shall keep you posted on her progress.


-Upriver: WE WISH TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS

Trust that you are reading our DRAFT REPORT sent during the morning. The maximum sailing draft from San Lorenzo and Rosario is 9.58 meters (31 feet 05 inches).

The max allowed draft at the main upriver Parana Ports is expected:

in the range of 31’05” by end of April

in the range of 32’00” by beg of May.

in the range of 32’05” by mid of May.

-Brazil Upriver dams: In the meantime the Foreign Office have formally requested Brazil to open the dams Upriver from Iguazu to allow more through put of water. The dams were closed because of the low water flow and also because a new dam on the River Iguazu was filling her reservoir. This made a bad situation a little worse. If Brazil agrees to open the dams then River level may improve for a few days. The main problem is the drought in all the River Parana basin and we must wait until the rain starts falling again. The meteorological forecast for the coming week is not encouraging.

-San Nicolas: The port administration is performing sounding in order to finally commence dredging operations along the berths and the access channel. Once the soundings are completed the dredger is expected to get to work and improve the draft substantially in order to bring San Nicolas back in line with the rest of the Upriver ports.


-Santa Fé:
We talk little about Santa Fé, Northern Pampa Port. Today a dredger started working in the access Channel. The low flow of water in the river is seen as an opportunity to make dredging more effective and make Santa Fé more accessible for smaller ocean going vessels.

-Necochea: The port remains open since April 09th at 1615 hrs.


-Necochea and Bahia Blanca:
The grain surveyors’ union are still keeping a “work to rule” and will only attend vessels in normal working hours. Monday to Friday 0700/1900 hrs. Saturday 0700/1300 hrs.

-India nationals: Indian nationals require a visa to enter Argentina in any circumstance other than seamen. Indian seamen as part of the vessel’s crew are allowed entry on a crew list provided they have a Seaman’s book. Indian nationals are not allowed to be listed as passengers. It sometimes happens that crew members´ wives accompany the vessel and are not considered crew as they do not have seamen’s books, Argentine Immigration impose heavy fines and have on occasion deported Indian Nationals in these cases. We ask Owners and managers to please pay very careful attention to this.

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.

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