MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Port costs: Punta Arenas loosing to Ushuaia.

Magallanes Senator Sergio Fernandez has requested Punta Arenas official to review overall docking costs for cruise vessels and make them more competitive with Ushuaia in Argentina that has virtually monopolized the industry.

Based on a report comparing Chilean and Argentine ports costs in Patagonia specifically elaborated by the Chilean Economy Ministry representative in Magallanes, Senator Fernandez indicated that Punta Arenas Port Authority costs are similar to those of Ushuaia.

"However the additional services such as pilots, maritime agencies, ship chandlers, buoy and lighthouse, vessel reception and dispatch, costs shared between the Chilean Navy and local agents are far superior to those in Argentina", said Senator Fernandez.

For example, channel buoys and lighthouse service for a 133 meters long cruise vessel costs in Punta Arenas 1,195 US dollars and in Ushuaia 111 US dollars.

However regarding pilot and additional services in Punta Arenas total 3,809 US dollars compared to 4,624 US dollars in Ushuaia.

Docking, reception and dispatch, local agent and port cost adds up to 20,908 US dollars in Punta Arenas for a 133 meters long cruise, but in Ushuaia the cost in 10,245 US dollars. For a 230 metres cruise the totals are 45,751 and 22,829 US dollars.