December 16th 2021
Strike at Ports in Upriver
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, December 17th, until Monday December 20th 0800 hrs)
– HQ Buenos Aires:
Horacio Vazquez +54 9 11 5578 4554
Germán Andrés Stoppo +54 9 11 6434 1673
– Upriver:
Pablo Andres Faggiani +54 9 11 3156 1681
Agustin More +54 9 11 6656 1677
Walter Nestor Travaglini +54 9 11 3156 1680
National Holidays: Saturday, December 25th, 2021 (Christmas Day) and Saturday January 01st, 2022. It is customary that December 24th (Christmas Eve) and December 31st (New Year’s Eve) are also declared holidays shortly before the date.
Strike at Ports in Upriver: There has been a small strike at some terminals today evening in the Zarate, Campana and Del Guazú area. Stevedores are asking for an end of year bonus and are said to be supported by a Union Federation. Although there has been a stoppage at the mentioned ports it has not spilt over to the main Upriver area.
Renova at San Lorenzo: This terminal will be closed for routine annual maintenance during January 2022.
Grain exports from Argentina: Maize exports continue firmly with an expected volume of 1.6 million during December ands first day in January. Wheat tenders are open to Algeria totaling 690,000 tons. A significant amount of this will be sourced from Argentina.
Crew changes in Argentina: Restrictions have placed on all persons travelling who originate or transit via Africa due to the detection of the “Omicron” variety of Covid-19.
This is still an ongoing and developing situation.
Incoming crew are now allowed to join vessels provided the proper Visa and Sanitary arrangements are made at origin principally as per below:
*Visas are issued prior entry at the corresponding Argentine Consulate for nationalities required.
The list of nationalities that require visas is available at: https://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesible/indexdnm.php?visas
*Full vaccination performed at least 14 days prior entry to Argentina
*Negative PCR test performed 72 hours prior first boarding
*Antigen test performed upon arrival at “safe entry corridor” point (for example Buenos Aires Airport Ezeiza)
If, in case the boarding crew member does not have full vaccination (minimum 2 doses) before boarding then the person must be kept in quarantine for 7 days and may only leave this quarantine once a negative PCR test is performed.
Crew are allowed to leave vessels on Sanitary grounds. This is understood to be with a medical certificate, issued in Argentina, that certifies the crew member is “unfit for duty onboard”. One reason considered to be “unfit for duty onboard” is in case that due to “severe distress” the crew member cannot perform his duties. Another reason is in case the crew member has an expired work contract and can prove to Sanitary Authority that he cannot wait for the vessel’s next port of call.
PLEASE CONSULT US PRIOR COMMENCING PROCEDURES.
Tug Boat Service in Argentina: Tug boats still continue “working to rule” due to a wage dispute. Services are limited to 12 hours per day, every day of the week. Service is being provided between 0700 and 1900 or 0600 and 1800 hours depending on the port. This is at ALL ports except for Buenos Aires where the action has other characteristics. Negotiations remain ongoing.
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