Upriver Dredging
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: Friday, May 01st 2020, Labor day. Next Monday, May 25th, May Revolution.
-Covid-19 National Quarantine: The National Quarantine, with severe restrictions on people’s movements is to remain in force until April 26th. Expectations is that it will be extend with restrictions lifted for very limited occupations.
-Grain Markets: Export licenses for 127,000 mt maize, 50,000 mt of soft wheat and 37,000 mt of soya meal were released today.
-River Parana draft restriction: One coal laden panamax, the mv ASIA CONFIDENCE, on about 9.92 meters is waiting at Zona Comun since April 17th for draft improvement in order to get to Puerto Buitrago SIDERAR. Another coal laden panamax, the mv GNG CONCORDE 2, on 9.60 meters draft is giving ETA Recalada tomorrow 22nd and must also discharge at Puerto Buitrago SIDERAR. The max arrival draft for Puerto Buitrago today April 21st is 9.48 meters.
In case your vessel is going to load or is loading a cargo for Argentina Upriver ports we are at your full disposal for arrival draft advise, to adjust vessels draft during loading.
-River Parana dredging: One plus side to the low water is that the dredgers work more effectively and it must be said that HIDROVIA, the managers of the River Parana concession are using all means at their disposal to work on the shallow passes. At this moment there are four dredgers working at critical areas between Zona Comun and San Lorenzo-Timbues. We shall keep you posted every morning in our DRAFT REPORT of improvements attained.
At San Nicolas New Port it is expected that the dredger DASA I will be arriving by the end of this week to improve the overall draft situation there. This work is independent of HIDROVIA and is being contracted by the San Nicolas Port Consortium.
-Vicentin: The tribunal has authorized them to work under a special judicial agreement as a subcontractor. This is a slight improvement in their unhappy situation.
-Wheat 2020/2021: Expectations for the upcoming (winter) sowing of the next wheat crop, due to start in about one month’s time, are optimistic with an increase up from last season’s 6,600,000 hectares. Originally there was hesitation regarding the drought that all South Eastern South America is suffering, but small showers in northern Argentina have improved the sowing mood. Additionally in view of the great economic slowdown we are now living there is forecast for higher demand of wheat in comparison with more “expensive” crops such as soya. This is because the “cheaper” food will be demanded as economic downturn makes “expensive” food, meats, fed on soya, less attractive.
-Soya harvest 2019/2021: This is well underway now with close to 25 per cent harvested. The drought has reduced the harvest forecast to 49,500,000 tons, down by about 4.5 million.
-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.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
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