MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ushuaia outbids Punta Arenas port

The greater operational costs for visiting cruises in the port of Punta Arenas compared to Ushuaia in Argentina are causing growing concern among Chilean authorities and the tourist industry.

Eduardo Manzanares General Manager of Empresa Portuaria Austral, EPA, the joint public-private administrator of the port of Punta Arenas argues that berthing costs are similar to Ushuaia, but this is not the case with the additional costs, signalling, pilots, reception, and maritime agency which are dearer.

Two examples are mentioned in the Punta Arenas press: the 133 metres long "Seabour Price" and the 230 meters long "Ryndam".

In the first case, maritime signalling is billed 1,795 US dollars in Punta Arenas, and 111 in Ushuaia.

Access pilot, 3,809 US dollars in Punta Arenas and 4,624 in Ushuaia.

Port pilot, tugs, berthing and de-berthing, 8,892 US dollars in PA and 136 in Ushuaia.

Reception and dispatching the vessel (includes public utilities, Customs, etc.), Punta Arenas 920 US dollars and 243 US dollars in Ushuaia.

Maritime agency, 3,505 US dollars and 3,300 US dollars and finally cost of remaining in port and passenger transfer, 1,897 and 1,831 US dollars.

The final bill for the "Seabour Pride" amounts to 20,909 US dollars in Punta Arenas and in Ushuaia 10,246 US dollars.

For the "Ryndam" the final billing is 45,751 US dollars in PA and 22,829 in Ushuaia.

Other examples, according to EPA:

"Royal Princess", 39,440 US dollars against 21,866 US dollars in Argentina.

"Arcadia", 52,897 US dollars in PA, and 25,147 in Ushuaia.

Ushuaia port authority Salvador de Gaetano is quoted saying that at the moment there are ten cruise vessels operating which expect to complete 80 trips to Antarctica this season.