Parana River Draft
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 Holiday: Monday, May 25th, May Revolution.
Covid-19 National Quarantine: The National Quarantine will remain in force until May 24th. Buenos Aires and the surrounding areas (Greater Buenos Aires) will have stricter regulation limiting movement. The rest of the country where cases have been fewer will be allowed to relax restrictions.
At the main ports the sanitary measures remain unchanged and working well coordinated. The Ships Agency activities being related to foreign trade is one of the excepted from quarantine.
Export Licenses: Export licenses were granted today for 116,000 metric tons of soya meal, 55,000 metric tons of soya oil and 30,000 metric tons of maize.
Pilots: Further to report yesterday. There have not been developments or new regulation issued from the Government for pilots boarding vessels at Recalada and the supposed 14 day quarantine to be applied. There have been one or two incidents where LINER vessels, that have called Argentina have had crew affected by Covid-19 and are now in quarantine in Brazil. It is true that Liner vessels are more exposed to contagion and it also true that LINER vessels have been less strictly controlled than other traffics. This may explain why this has happened.
Parana River draft: At Rosario, Unidad VI and Unidad VII Servicios Portuarios Elevator a sand bank has appeared due to the very low water level. The mv MSXT ARTEMIS which loaded down to maximum sailing draft for May 16th, 9.28 meters, as authorized was not able to leave the berth and is now grounded alongside.
Bahia Blanca: A vessel that attended Upriver as first load port was brought in by a River Plate pilot that has since been diagnosed with Covod-19. As this information became known all vessels that were attended by this pilot have been placed on a “watch list”. One of these vessels later proceeded for completion to Bahia Blanca and the Port Authority has placed her on a 14 day quarantine because the mentioned pilot was onboard. The 14 day period is counted as from the day the mentioned person left the vessel and is due to expire on or about May 22nd. Meantime the vessel must wait before berthing.
Necochea: The port closed today, May 20th at 1810 hours due to strong winds and 1.30 meters swell.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
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