January 02nd – Crew changes in Argentina


Crew changes in Argentina

Tugboat service: Tug boats are under a mandatory truce period imposed by the Ministry of Labor until max January 05th, 2022. At Necochea and Bahia Blanca service is rendered for 12 hours periods, each day, counting as from the first service of the day. Other ports are working normally while the truce lasts.

Slop discharge at Bahia Blanca: A slop and sludge discharge service is now available in Bahia Blanca. This service had not been rendered at this port previously.

Bunker delivery at Zona Comun: Staring tomorrow January 03rd Peninsula Petroleum, in association with Minerva Bunkering, will commence deliveries at Zona Comun using the tanker mt “HE MAN H”. The tanker has a maximum capacity of 1,200 mtons of Fuel Oil.

Barley harvest 2021/2022: The barley harvest is underway at the moment with an expected total yield of 5 million tons. This barley is principally shipped from Bahia Blanca and Necochea and destination for the surplus is China.

Fertilizer Imports – Urea: The volume of imports on handy/handymax/supramax vessels is urea fertilizer. During 2021 the total import volume was 1 million tons. Of this quantity 300 thousand tons was due to the three month close down of Profertil Bahia Blanca. The close down had been planned for two months but lasted longer than planned. The production shortfall was compensated by Profertil imports as well as other foreign suppliers. In the meantime the demand for urea is strong and imports are expected to be sustained, although at a lower level than 2021 because Profertil will be fully operational. Profertil will have one monthly cabotage shipment from Bahia Blanca to Upriver under coa and estimates 10 further spot cabotage shipments each in the order of 25/28 thousand tons. Otherwise the surplus demand for urea will be met by imports but these are expected to be in the order of 700/800 thousand tons during 2022.

Crew changes in Argentina: Restrictions have placed on all persons travelling who originate or transit via Africa due to the detection of the “Omicron” variety of Covid-19.

This is still an ongoing and developing situation.

Incoming crew are now allowed to join vessels provided the proper Visa and Sanitary arrangements are made at origin principally as per below:

*Visas are issued prior entry at the corresponding Argentine Consulate for nationalities required.

The list of nationalities that require visas is available at: this link

*Full vaccination performed at least 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.

Tug Boat Service in Argentina: Tug boats still continue “working to rule” due to a wage dispute. Services are limited to 12 hours per day, every day of the week. Service is being provided between 0700 and 1900 or 0600 and 1800 hours depending on the port. This is at ALL ports except for Buenos Aires where the action has other characteristics. Negotiations remain ongoing.

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.
Best regards,

Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.

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