May 26th – Port of Diamante


May 26th 2022

Port of Diamante

ANTARES: We attach to this News a flyer with the full detail of all our staff and offices for your ready reference.

Week end duty staff:

– HQ Buenos Aires:

Manuel Garcia Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4559

German Andres Stoppo +54 9 11 6434 1673

– Upriver:

Sebastian Ferrara +54 9 11 3156 1679

Franco Ostoic +54 9 11 6656 1678

Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680


National Holidays: June 17th and June 20th (extra-long weekend)

VERY IMPORTANT

Further surveys performed on the River now establish a new determinant for northern berths at Rosario (TPR, Unit VI/VII, Cargill VGG and Cargill Punta Alvear) with a depth of 9.20 for that area at Zero datum. Meantime a dredger is working at the shallow area of Km 450.4 in San Lorenzo.

River Parana Draft Forecast as per INA Report basis shallowest points reported May 26th:

There are no surges forecast for the coming months. River levels are expected to drop to 9.7/9.8 meters from the lower Upriver ports. We are returning to a scenario where San Lorenzo, Rosario, and San Nicolás will have differing maximum sailing drafts.


There are no surges forecast for the coming months. River levels are expected to drop to 9.7/9.8 meters from Upriver ports. We are returning to a scenario where San Lorenzo, Rosario, and San Nicolás will have differing maximum sailing drafts.

Grains and Markets:

The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange reports that the planting of the wheat crop for Argentina’s 2022/2023 harvest is now officially underway. The forecast is for a total of 6.6 million hectares, a slightly smaller area than the 2021/2022 harvest when 6.9 million hectares were sown. The reduction is reported to be caused by drier weather and the very increased costs of fertilizers. Of this harvest already 8.2 million tons have already been sold in forward contracts.
According to a market survey the use of fertilizers during the coming harvest is expected to be reduced by about 7 per cent due to the significant price increases.
India has allowed duty free imports of soya and sunflower seed oil. This ought to stimulate sales from ECSA.

Port of Diamante:

Diamante is a port that is considered the furthest “Upriver” of all the Upriver ports. It is located at Km 534.5 of the Parana River. It has an elevator operated by Cargill.

Given the present low water on the Parana it has been little used. The announcement was made today of a preliminary dredging of the access canal in order to allow barges and smaller river vessels to enter. A second stage of dredging will be implemented shortly to improve access to larger ocean going vessels.


Argentine Offshore prospecting and production:

Pressure groups are making themselves felt both in favor and against off-shore oil, but mainly gas, prospecting. The exploration and eventual exploitation of these off-shore resources is getting groups together to either object or else support the prospecting off-shore. Production prospects are optimistic, and the bidders of the areas have asked for extensions of their permits into 2024. The total area covers approximately 15,000 square kilometers.
The ports that are bidding to be home to the servicing are Mar del Plata and Bahia Blanca.

Pilotage tariffs increase recap 2022:
As from February 1st, River Plate Pilots announced an increase of about 5% on transportation expenses (ground and boat services).
As from May 1st, Parana River Pilots announced an increase of about 5% on transportation expenses (ground and boat services).
As from May 1st, Port Pilots have announced an increase of about 17% on transportation expenses (ground and boat services).
Additionally Port pilots have now “interpreted” the regulations in the same light as other pilots, and they will start charging for dropping and weighing anchors. These additional “maneuvers”, when they take place, will involve extra charges of (usd 14 x vessel’s FU ((LOA x BEAM x DEPTH)/800)), about USD 2,000.00 for Supramax vessels and USD 2,500.00 for Panamax vessels. While port pilots will start applying it this year, River Plate and Parana River Pilots have been charging additional maneuvers for several years already.

Bahia Blanca stevedores:
Bahia Blanca stevedores:

Stevedores are stopping work for one to two hours during each six-hour shift in protest claiming a Covid-19 bonus. This action has now been ongoing for a few weeks.

ARGENTINA – Crew changes:
Regulations for Crew Changes are being relaxed in almost all major Ports (except Necochea),

ANTARES: We attach to this News a but for Nationals(*) needing VISA

the process is still quite long.

Process for Crew Change:

1.Joining and departing crew must have full vaccination scheme completed (two doses) 48 hours prior joining or departing vessel.
2.A sworn statement must be signed.
3.Joining and departing crew that do NOT have the full vaccination scheme must have an antigen test performed not more than 48 hours prior or a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior joining or departing the vessel.
4.Requests for visas to be issued at Consulates must be presented to Immigration offices, via Agents.
5.Disembarking crew will need to have a Covid health insurance that covers them for about one year in case the crew member is detected as infected after leaving the vessel and prior to leaving the country.

Estimated Time for On Signers without needing VISA: 5/7 (five/seven) days
Estimated Time for On Signers needing VISA: 10 (ten) days
Estimated Time for Off Signers: 5 (five) days

PLEASE CONTACT US PRIOR COMMENCING PROCEDURES.

(*) Passport Required VISA Full List

Will keep you posted.

Best regards,

Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.

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