December 21st 2021
Tug Boat Service in Argentina
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.
Tug Boat Service in Argentina: The Government has today (21st) declared a truce for the next 15 days. During this period work will continue as it was prior to the industrial action. Service in all ports, except for Necochea, will be rendered 24 hours per day, seven days a week, including holidays. In Necochea the service will commence upon first operation and then tugs will be available for the next 12 hours. Negotiations remain ongoing.
El Niño: Some far sighted meteorologists are forecasting an end to El Niño, the current in the Pacific Ocean which is upsetting weather from it’s usual patterns all over the Southern Hemisphere. There is little science explanation to this, for the moment. It would nevertheless be good to return to normal rainfall levels. Specially as today, the Southern Hemisphere starts Summer!
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: this link
*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.
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