December 28th – Work over the coming New Year Week-end


Work over the coming New Year Week-end

Crew changes in Argentina

Holidays: Friday, December 31st, 2021 and Saturday January 01st, 2022.

Work over the coming New Year Week-end:

Customs has announced that Friday 31st will be considered overtime and that Customs services charged on that ratio.

Tugboats (except Necochea) Tugboat service will be rendered up to 1900 hours of December 31st and will resume January 01st (2022) at 0800 hours.

Tugboats at Necochea will be rendered up to 1900 hours on December 30th and will resume January 02nd (2022) at 0800 hours.

Berths and ports will confirm later on this week regarding work procedures and we will keep you posted.

Tugboat service: Tug boats are under a mandatory truce period imposed by the Ministry of Labor until max January 05th, 2022. At Necochea and Bahia Blanca service is rendered for 12 hours periods, each day, counting as from the first service of the day. Other ports are working normally while the truce lasts.

River Paraná/River Plate dredging and buoying: The award of the “short term” contract for River Parana and River Plate (Upriver/Recalada) buoying and dredging is expected to be announced shortly. This will be a short term contract for approximately one year until the longer term contract is announced and awarded. A this moment there are few details of the longer contract. It is expected to be for a longer period (15 or 20 years) and will call for improvements in the canal design. We shall keep you posted as news develops.

Covid-19 in Argentina “Omicron” and “Delta” variants: Infections are rising strongly again on both variants of Covid-19. Over the last week they have increased from an average 5,408 per day to 15,689 registered today, Tuesday 28th, counted nationwide. For the time being the Government is not wanting to re-introduce restrictions. Argentina had one of the strongest and longest lock-downs during 2020 and first half 2021.

River Paraná Upriver Draft: The lack of rain over the catchment area of the River Parana (SE Brazil, Eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and Northern Argentina) persists.

Hereunder the forecast prepared by INA (National Water Institute) for the coming ten weeks:


Please follow our “Daily Draft Report” sent every day and we STRONGLY suggest that you contact us prior load completion of a loaded vessel due to discharge at Upriver Port/s.

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.

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.

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