April 28th 2022
River Parana Draft
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: (Thursday April 14th am, until Monday April 18th 2022, 0800 hrs)
– 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: Sunday May 01st, Labor Day – Pilot boat services will be available but due to restrictions there may occur delays. Please see detail below.
River Parana Draft Forecast as per INA Report:
DRAFT FORECAST (Calculated as per Current Shallowest Points Apr 21 2022)
San Lorenzo’s shallowest point now located at EP. BORGHI/BELLA VISTA 447,2 depth of 9.2 M at Zero datum Rosario’s shallowest point now located at Emp Alvear/Canal Muelles Ros 410.3 depth of 9.4M at Zero datum
San Nicolas’ shallowest point now located at Arriba Obligado Km 311,6 depth of 9.9M at Zero datum
Under certain conditions, when Rosario and San Lorenzo are under a surge that does not reach San Nicolas, then the bar located near to San Nicolas will act as the bottleneck to all upriver ports (Rosario and San Lorenzo).
Pilot services on Sunday May 1st (Labor Day):
Pilot boat services will be limited at both Recalada and Zona Comun on Sunday May 1st (Labor Day). At Recalada the pilot boats will departing from a different harbor located slightly further out to sea (Piriapolis). At Zona Comun the availability of boats will be limited to one unit only. This may cause delays.
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.
Grains and Markets:
Algeria has purchased 250 thousand tons of wheat for shipment dates last half May, first half June and second half June. The parcels purchased will be shipped partly on Panamax tonnage and partly Supramax vessels. Origins are not yet disclosed.
The local (Argentina) wheat market is working in a very busy fashion. This is stimulated by the shortage of wheat in the principal supply markets brought on by hostilities in the Black Sea region. Today it was reported that 78 per cent of the wheat tonnage allowed by the Government for 2022 export has already been booked.
Ballast Water Reporting:
The CoastGuard have advised that as from now they will be resuming Ballast Water inspections on vessels arriving in Argentina. The inspections are mainly carried out once at the loading port roads. Masters must take special care when preparing ballast water reports. We will gladly assist them with this.
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.
ACA Berth, San Lorenzo:
The ACA berth in San Lorenzo is limited to maximum 180 meters LOA due to a navigation accident during late February. Although work is underway to repair the damage it is not yet known when this expected to conclude.
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.Prior boarding authorization must be obtained from the Sanitary Authority and afterwards from Immigration.
2.Joining and departing crew must have full vaccination scheme completed (two doses) 48 hours prior joining or departing vessel.
3.A sworn statement must be signed.
4.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.
5.Joiner/s must enter Argentina via a “designated safe corridor” (Buenos Aires International Airport).
6.Requests for visas to be issued at Consulates must be presented to Immigration offices, via Agents on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
7.Immigration will issue the requested visas three days after they were requested and deliver on Tuesday and Thursdays for forwarding to Consulates.
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
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.
Will keep you posted.
Best regards,
Antares Servicios Maritimos S.A.
For more information