Upriver & Export Taxes
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.
ANTARES: We attach to this News a flyer with the full detail of all our staff for your ready reference. Both for our office in Buenos Aires and for San Lorenzo (Upriver).
Week end duty staff: (Friday noon, October 02nd until Monday 0800 hrs, October 05th)
* HQ Buenos Aires:
Gabriel Malagrino +54 9 11 5578 4556
Manuel García Claveria +54 9 11 5578 4559
* Upriver:
Franco Ostojic +54 9 11 6656 1678
Walter Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
National Holidays: Next National Holiday, Monday, October 12th.
Soya: The Government announced this evening that there will be a slight reduction in export taxes for soya valid for the month of October. Roughly speaking, the tax rate today is 33 per cent. For October his will be reduced to 30 per cent and then gradually returned to be back to 33 per cent in January. This may produce a short, slight term surge in exports during the near term. It is yet to be seen if this means beans or meal or both. The good thing is that we will see more freight demanded.
Maize: The sowing for the coming 2020/2021 is moving ahead at better pace than expected with improved rainfall conditions. The projection for the area to be sown is slightly under last year’s, mainly affected by the early season’s drought. It now remains to be seen if the yield upon harvesting is as good as the previous season. For the first time in many years the harvested total of maize was higher than soya.
River Parana Draft: The longer term forecasts remains optimistic regarding the return of a better flow of water to the Parana towards the end of 2020.
*Actual measured height
The worst level of the River, measured at Rosario during May and June was in the range of 0.60 meters.
The sailing draft forecast for Upriver ports during October and November would be averaging 10.00 meters / 32 feet 09 inches.
River Plate pilotage fees: The River Plate pilotage has been increased for vessels in and outbound from Recalada to Zona Comun and vice versa. The increase is related to a 35 per cent tax being levied by the Argentine Government on expenses incurred abroad, in this case Uruguay, for launch services at Recalada anchorage. The extra cost is on a lumpsum basis below:
USD 840.00 for dry vessels inbound
USD 980.00 for dry vessels outbound
USD 980.00 for tankers inbound
USD 980.00 for tankers outbound
This translates into about 5 per cent additional on the pilotage fees.
The increase will be implemented as from October 01st.
Open loop scrubbers: The San Lorenzo Coast Guard have instructed that all vessels equipped with open loop scrubbers arriving in their jurisdiction be reported to them prior arrival.
Crew changes Argentina: The borders remain closed and crew changes are not permitted. Despite earlier optimism plans to restart internal flights as from October 01st have been postponed until further notice. On this basis it is difficult to be optimistic regarding the opening of the border restrictions and regular international flights within the coming weeks.
Crew changes Uruguay: On and Off signing crew are allowed entry into the country under very strict restrictions. On signers must have a prior negative Covid 19 test 72 hours prior being allowed entry. Crew members boarding are not allowed to stop at any stage between landing at the airport (Montevideo) and boarding the vessel. Once onboard the vessel they must comply with a 14 day quarantine onboard before being allowed to work. Departing crew must proceed directly from the vessel to the airport. Considering that there are at the moment few international flights these requirements make it very difficult for crew members to enter or leave the country. Additionally to this before a boarding crew member is allowed permit of entry the agreement of Sanitary Authority, Immigration and CoastGuard must be obtained.
The best way of achieving a successful crew change at Uruguay is to have the vessel do this OUTBOUND at Recalada/Montevideo anchorage when the vessel’s schedule is not bound so much by weather and port congestions.
Crew changes Chile: Chilean colleagues have supplied us with the following detail to proceed for crew changes in Chile:
Kindly note a protocol has been issued to allow crew changes while our borders are still closed for non Chilean citizens, here you will find requiring points to be complied with:
OFF SIGNERS
Authorities are allowing for crew members to disembark and take their flights from Chile to their final destinations with following conditions:
• Providing all information about the intended disembarking to the Health, Maritime, Migration Authorities via Agency at least 72 hours in advance including names, citizenship, passport number, name of vessel, and full repatriation flight schedule (attached file with data requested).
• Completing a 14 days quarantine period on board in good health condition since the vessel sailed from the last foreign port prior to disembarking in Chile.
• Submitting the on-line affidavit for travelers to prevent Coronavirus diseases (attached).
• Not presenting any symptoms of COVID19 (Health Service may order a health check at any time)
• Moving directly from the disembarking port to the airport or designated sanitary residence (in case 14 days of quarantine not completed). Max. period permitted in the hotel is 5 days.
• Wearing personal health protection items such as face mask, face shield, gloves and hand sanitizer while in our country.
ON SIGNERS
Before trip
We need to send to Ministry of Transport a few points (attached file with data requested).
Once received and double checked, they will send the approval to Consulate where joiner will come from.
The crew member must going personally to the respective Consulate, for taking a picture, fingerprint.
If all going well, the consulate will notify to Immigration, Health Service and sanitary borders, that crew member can travel and get in to Chilean territory.
Along with this a safe-conduct document will be provided. This document will be mandatory and must be presented on arrival to Chile.
IMPORTANT: Only crew members who does not require Chilean visa to come to Chile can apply to safe-conduct.
Once arrived to Chile.
At any time, must wear facial mask and carry own protective items for COVID-19
Immigration would check that all documents are in order, if so, will be provided the SHORE PASS (crew member immigration card).
The Health Inspector will make an evaluation of crew health, if do not have any symptom of COVID 19, her entry will be granted.
In case to have any symptom or to result positive in the preliminary Covid test, would be isolated and the entry would be denied.
Transportation from International airport to the port must be exclusive. So, domestic flights are not permitted and either intercity buses service (commercial).
Also important for both, on signers and off signers, is to have tentative flight schedule (complete route), this is necessary to start formalities with authorities.
We estimate about 5-7 business days to complete formalities.
Necochea: Necochea opened September 28th at 1530 in view of improved weather conditions. The port had closed September 27th at 0945 hours due to strong winds, 2 meter high waves and very low visibility.
Necochea: All vessels arriving must comply with a 14 day quarantine. The 14 days are counted from the date of departure from the last foreign port of call, regardless of having Free Practique issued at a previous port of call in Argentina within the 14 day period.
Bahia Blanca: The 14 day quarantine for incoming vessels will be waived for vessels whose last port of call is Brazil. Nevertheless the previous regulation for other last ports of call will remain in place. This quarantine can be excepted if the terminal where the vessel will load produces proof that an earlier berthing is required.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
For more information