The National Ports and Navigation Agency, led by Iñaki Miguel Arreseygor, announced that on April 9 it will receive contributions and observations to develop a new bidding process for the dredging and beaconing of the strategic Paraná-Paraguay Hidrovía.
This call comes after the previous bidding process failed and was canceled when only one company, the Belgian firm DEME, submitted an offer. The government decided to restart the process to ensure greater competition and transparency following judicial controversies and allegations of anti-competitive practices.
In parallel, the national government will implement a decree in the coming days, promoted by Federico Sturzenegger, Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, alongside Arreseygor, which will amend maritime transport regulations and allow foreign vessels to operate in national cabotage.
The initiative ends the exclusivity of the Argentine Merchant Marine and permits foreign ships and crews to participate in local maritime trade, particularly significant for the route between the Port of Posadas and the Port of Zárate via the Paraná-Paraguay Hidrovía.
Changes to the National Cabotage Law
The decree establishes that navigation, communication, and cabotage trade can be carried out by vessels registered both in Argentina and abroad, allowing foreign-flagged ships to operate for renewable periods of up to 180 days. Additionally, it removes the requirement to hire Argentine crews, permitting the inclusion of maritime or river personnel of any nationality.
Benefits for National Shipowners
The regulation will also benefit Argentine shipowners by allowing them to request a temporary suspension of their national flag registration with the Argentine Naval Prefecture and register their vessels under foreign flags without it being considered an export. This benefit will be valid for up to ten years, with automatic re-entry without additional costs, though it excludes fishing vessels.
Impact on Unions and Employers
The decree designates commercial maritime navigation as an essential service, ensuring a minimum level of operability during strikes or labor disputes. While unions will be able to suggest lists of available personnel, employers will retain full freedom to hire. This measure has sparked concern and opposition from sector unions, which warn of potential labor and economic harm.
During a recent visit to the Tec Plata port in Buenos Aires, Arreseygor emphasized the need to “deregulate the sector” and confirmed that any future projects will depend solely on private capital, ruling out state investments to deepen dredging north of the Timbúes port.
These changes could be enacted via presidential decree in the coming weeks, generating both expectations and controversies among business leaders, unions, and provincial authorities.