MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New fisheries patrol

Chilean Navy Third Naval Zone, operating from Punta Arenas incorporated this week a new all purpose vessel whose main task will be fisheries patrol.

"Punta Arenas" was built in the Navy's docks in Talcahuano and is one of thirteen units of the Danubio project that will replace and standardize the general purpose vessels assigned to Chile's Maritime Territory and Merchant Navy duties. General purpose vessels besides fisheries patrol are involved in aquatic environment protection and search and rescue operations. "This second incorporation means a considerable operational capability increase for our naval zone. With "Punta Arenas" and "Ona" we are in far better conditions to ensure operations in our area", said Captain Jorge Ahumada during the reception ceremony in the Navy's Arturo Prat jetty. Another two all purpose vessels "Puerto Natales" and "Yagana" are operating from Ultima Esperanza. In related news the Chilean government announced in Santiago that the children from two Punta Arenas fishermen killed during an accident have been granted pensions. Last July a coastal fishing vessel was struck and sunk by a Chilean Navy tug during night naval exercises. The children will receive a monthly 50 US dollars pension until they become of age at 18 years. One of them who is disabled has been granted a life monthly pension equivalent to 100 US dollars.

Keep to tourism and cattle

Magallanes Region must concentrate its efforts and hopes in those activities that are permanent and strategic and have a greater labour demand, recommended Chile's Central Bank president Carlos Massad who was invited by local officials to visit Punta Arenas. Mr. Massad a renowned economist and consultant, former advisor of the IMF said during a conference in Punta Arenas about "Chile and the future", that Magallanes greatest potentials were tourism and livestock, particularly following the recent trade agreements with Europe and United States. However Mr. Massad pointed out that tourism promotion needs of excellent Internet connections, -"which must be improved"-, and optimal international communications. "Efforts and hopes must concentrate in those activities that are permanent and strategic and have a greater labour demand. And only when there's nothing else left, other means have to be looked for, because you simply can't depopulate the Region otherwise it becomes a national security issue", stressed Mr. Massad. Another area that Mr. Massad underlined as deficient was the economic statistics of the Region, which makes it very difficult "to have the right picture". "Most of the regional economic and financial information we receive comes from companies that have their headquarters in Santiago, and many times the data is incomplete. The National Statistics Office is looking into that and we hope to make an improvement in the near future", added Mr. Massad. Regarding the overall Chilean economy, Mr. Massad pointed out that is spite of being the most stable of Latinamerican economies, "we have complications derived from the world stock markets collapse and oil prices". Mr. Massad anticipated Chile will grow between 2 and 2,5% this year; 3,5/4,5% in 2003 and 4,5% in 2004 with annual inflation in the range of 2 to 3%. Finally Mr. Massad indicated that even when Chile has managed to keep unemployment below 10%, "we need to look into a greater salary flexibility and income participation", so that "whenever we are exposed to external shocks, they don't immediately reflect in employment levels". "We prefer a salary cost adjustment price rather than an increase in the number of unemployed. I think it will be much fairer for the wellbeing of the country".

Polar circumnavigation

Quark Expeditions will resume their pioneering 13,000 miles South Pole Circumnavigation Cruise this November, according to the latest release from the company. Quark offered the first tourism polar circumnavigation in the 96/97 season and its upcoming 65 night cruise will depart November 26. The voyage will be aboard the 112 passenger Russian icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov with a crew of 60. Expedition leader is Werner Stambach of the Titanic deep sea recovery project. Cost of the epic trip begins at 34,950 US dollars per person double. Two shorter segment trips are also offered. For more info: www.quarkexpeditions.com