MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

News from Punta Arenas.

Headlines: Punta Arenas loosing the battle with Ushuaia; Greater radar coverage; Joint navy exercises.

Punta Arenas loosing the battle with Ushuaia

The loss of competitiveness of Punta Arenas port vis-à-vis the ever expanding Ushuaia facilities and its impact in the local cruise and tourist industry convened an urgent meeting of Magallanes Region public and private sectors. "We need a radical change, otherwise we will cease to exist", warned Punta Arenas mayor Jaime Jelincic following the presentation by the interim manager of the local port authority of a paper with comparative docking costs in Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. "To start with, this season 61 cruise vessels called in Punta Arenas, while in Ushuaia 190, including most of those that sailed on to Antarctica", said interim manager Mr. Eduardo Manzanares. Further on Mr. Manzanares indicated that docking costs for the "Arcadia" in Punta Arenas was 51,276 US dollars while in Ushuaia it was virtually half the amount, 25,147 US dollars. Similarly with the "Ryndam" possibly one of the largest cruise vessels to visit the South Atlantic, 48,504 US dollars against 22,892 US dollars in the Argentine city that is rapidly monopolizing the cruise trade in the region. But this is not the whole story, if Punta Arenas is betting on the tourist industry as one of the main thrusts of the local economy. "Each year cruise vessels are becoming larger, and therefore the number of passengers increases. Next season we have vessels scheduled that are 270 meters long, carry 2,500 tourists, compared to the "Ryndam" that is 220 meters long", pointed out Mr. Manzanares. "We've become an expensive port, Ushuaia facilities are better, and therefore we must find a way to cut costs, particularly regarding pilots and tugs". Mr. Ricardo Barrientos from the Magallanes Regional Council appealed to government officials and the private sector to jointly work in finding ways to make Punta Arenas more competitive, "because if we don't address this challenge seriously, in two, three years at the most Punta Arenas will no longer be a calling point for the growing cruise industry". "We've lost passengers, vessels, and virtually the whole of the Antarctic cruise industry to Ushuaia", underlined Mr. Barrientos.

Greater radar coverage

In coincidence with the 47th anniversary of the Carlos Ibáñez del Campo airport in Punta Arenas, Chilean Civil Aviation authorities inaugurated an extension of radar coverage and other improvements that will make the terminal safer and more effective. Almost three million US dollars were invested in technological improvements mainly in the new radar that will now give the local airport a range of 256 miles (over the previous 180) and provide up to date information of all aircraft flying in the area facilitating tower control operations. "The new radar system will complement the one we have operating in Cerro Mirador (close to Punta Arenas) that will also be replaced in 2005, ensuring a full coverage of the area", indicated Chilean Civil Aviation Director Air Marshal Enrique Rosende. The renewal of lights with greater luminance power in the main air strips and demanding a quarter of a million US dollars was another of the improvements together with a hangar for the upkeep and launching of meteorological globe searchers that will help better weather forecasting. Other innovations include a multi-purpose hall for the airport staff plus a garage for the protection of emergency vehicles. "Next year we will be starting with the second phase of the national airports renewal program and for Magallanes Region this will mean the renovation of navigation equipment in Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams air terminals", revealed Air Marshal Rosende.

Joint navy exercises Chile-Peru

Chilean and Peruvian navies will be deployed in joint exercises in the second half of the year, following an agreement in Santiago between the Commanders in Chief of the two navies, Admirals Miguel Angel Vergara and Ricardo Arboccó. The first stage of the exercises named "Pacific" will take place while vessels from both navies sail to Hawaii to participate in the international "Rimpac 2003" exercises and then in Ecuador when they join this year's edition of the United States sponsored "Operation Unitas". A second chapter will take place under the name of "Neptune" targeted to jointly address contamination emergency situations in common maritime areas. "For years we've had a close relation with Chile, we have officers and personnel exchange programs, joint operations in naval academies", indicated Admiral Arboccó to the Chilean press. During his visit to Chile Admiral Arboccó was presented with a replica of the Peruvian cruiser "Huáscar" binnacle and medals of the Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau. The "Huascar" the lead ship of the Peruvian fleet was captured by the Chileans during the 1879 Pacific War when Peru and Bolivia in alliance fought Chile. The vessel has a special significance since both major naval heroes of Chile and Peru, Arturo Prat and Miguel Grau died on board in combat. Chilean marines will also be participating in humanitarian support exercises with the French Navy in Polynesia. "Marará" exercises are scheduled for this month and will include French naval forces stationed in New Caledonia and in the Polynesian archipelago and will focus support efforts and peace keeping operations in situations of natural disasters such as hurricanes, seism and tropical storms. "The purpose of the exercise is to "promote the integration of two nations with common interests and sovereign territory in Polynesia", reads the official release.