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DAP moves into the maritime business; Fire consumes 4,000 hectares in Torres del Paine; Magellan Strait waters highly contaminated; Magallanes Region expanded 4,5% in spite of methanol.

DAP moves into the maritime business.

DAP Mares; a Dap Airways associate has purchased a transport ferry as support for its tourist operations. The 76 metres long "Chinook" arrived Friday in Punta Arenas where she will undergo a full inspection in the local shipyard. "Once the hull has been thoroughly checked she will be ready to begin operations", said Alex Pivcevic partner and manager of Dap Mares which is responsible for the Pivcevic family maritime business. The ferry cost an estimated 2,5 million US dollars, was built in Spain in 1978 and had some upgrading done in Puerto Montt so she can sail in Antarctic waters, according to Mr. Pivcevic. ""Chinnok" will transport fuel and provisions to our Antarctic operations, and could even be contracted for scientific oceanographic research in Antarctica since she' equipped with appropriate equipment", added Dap Mares manager. "We estimate she'll be ready to sail south next March and we've already contracted the fifteen men of the crew".

Fire consumes 4,000 hectares in Torres del Paine.

Chilean fire brigades, members of the Chilean Army and Navy, plus firemen from Argentina are desperately fighting a fire which so far has consumed four thousand hectares of the pristine Torres del Paine Park in Patagonia. Park authorities have declared a red alert but there are no immediate prospects of when the fire will come under control since winds are extremely "erratic", according to Chilean Forestry authorities. The Santiago press revealed that the fire was first reported last Thursday and apparently was started when a tourist camper dropped a small gas stove. The Chilean Forestry authorities requested support from the central government which sent an Air Force aircraft with special fire brigades from Santiago. Argentine firemen specialized in forestry fire were also flown in to help. The fire comes in the middle of the peak tourist season when thousand of visitors and campers flock to one of Chilean Patagonia's most impressive national parks. However extremely dry weather has turned much of the pastures and forests into highly inflammable. Further south in Chabunco Park, twenty kilometres north of Punta Arenas, another forest fire broke out and was fortunately under control eighteen hours later reports La Prensa Austral. Punta Arenas Public Works Department personnel, volunteer firemen, members of the Armed Forces and from the Forestry Corporation with heavy equipment helped in combating and finally defeating the flames. The fire started in the camping area of the Chabunco Park and consumed ten hectares.

Magellan Strait waters highly contaminated.

Bacteriological tests in Punta Arenas beaches and shores have shown high concentrations of faecal coliforms according to a report from the regional Health Secretary, a "problem which is particularly threatening in summer months". The tests have shown a presence ranging between 2,200 and 33,000 faecal coliforms, well above the international maximum for such areas, considered recreational, which stands at 1,000 per 100 millilitres of water. However "there has been an improvement since last year in certain areas", admits Sergio Ruiz head of the Regional Sanitary Office. Punta Arenas water system was privatized last year and part of the contract includes building a network and water treatment plant to impede raw sewage from being dumped into the Magellan Strait. "Some discharges will be eliminated this year and we are involved in a strong campaign to convince households to connect to the system", said Jorge Sharp Operations Manager of the privatized Aguas Magallanes. "We therefore recommend people to avoid going swimming in Punta Arenas shores and coastal areas because of the very serious epidemiological risk", highlighted Mr. Ruiz who said that periodical samples for bacteriological testing will continue.

Magallanes Region expanded 4,5% in spite of methanol.

Magallanes Region expanded 4,5% in 2004, reverting the standing negative tendency since 2001, according to a report from the Chilean Statistics Institute. Growth is even more impressive, 7,8%, if methanol is not included. The upsurge was particularly strong in the last quarter of 2004 with a 13,9% expansion (16,3% excluding methanol production). Fisheries, public utilities, mining, construction, transport and communications acted as the locomotives of the regional economy. Magallanes exports in 2004 reached 672 million US dollars, (which represents 2,2% of Chile's exports), increasing 8,2% over 2003. However unemployment actually increased 0,6% over 2004, reaching an annual 7%. Bernardo Troncoso Regional Economy Ministry representative said that the "macroeconomic impact of the surging Chilean economy is beginning to reach Magallanes, besides important regional industries such as salmon farming and electricity production which indicates industry is rapidly recovering". Construction was another very dynamic sector with the building of new shopping areas, hotels and homes, "which normally has a direct influence over retailing". "I'm very optimistic about 2005 and our regional economy's sustained growth", emphasized Mr. Troncoso. Arturo Lillo, Magallanes Production and Commerce Confederation also praised the latest data and said that "the 2004 fourth quarter index is showing that we're recovering the level lost in 1999". But Mr. Lillo also pointed out that the current recovery, with all sectors responding and with greater competitiveness, is also showing that "there are still many people out of jobs and this could be indicating that we now have more capital intensive investments than those actually employing more people". "Overall the 2004 result is positive but it also has a complexity of variables and sector performances that need a closer monitoring", concluded Mr. Lillo. The methanol factor, with one of the leading plants in Punta Arenas, was seriously influenced last year with the Argentine unilateral decision to limit the supply of natural gas to Chile, which seriously limited local production.