MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ushuaia certified as safe by IMO

The Ushuaia port terminal in Tierra del Fuego which concentrates a majority of world maritime traffic with Antarctica has been officially certified as a safe port by the International Maritime Organization.

Four scanners, X ray luggage tunnels to help detect metals, weapons and narcotics, plus an operational core which coordinates monitoring by video cameras located in strategic places along the terminal are the essence of the 24 hours security measures which comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

The system is based on three new buildings, one for the terminal access, and two for incoming and outgoing passengers from cruise vessels and yachts with 24 hours video closed circuit monitoring of all activities.

"We're top of the list in security matters in Argentina, but our overall modernization plan is not over, investments are planned well into 2007", revealed Eduardo Coppola, president of Tierra del Fuego's Provincial Port Authority.

From now on visitors arriving in Ushuaia terminal will be scanned, their luggage X rayed in special tunnels and hand baggage visually controlled.

"I think the 1,5 million US dollars invested in improving security will not slow or delay passenger traffic; besides these are international measures and most our visiting tourists are from United States and Europe", added Mr. Coppola.

According to official statistics, last season 58,849 visitors arrived by sea in Ushuaia totalling 268 vessel calls and concentrating 97% of world maritime Antarctic traffic.

However Ushuaia is not only visitors, 80% of the port's revenue comes from cargo movement, mainly fisheries and supplies for the big public utility plants in Rio Grande Ushuaia.

The port of Ushuaia is located on the bay of the same name, a wide sac in the north coast of the Beagle Channel and is limited to the south-west by the Ushuaia Peninsula, which protects it from the winds coming from that direction, and to the south and south-east by the Bridge islands and islets.

The Commercial Pier, formerly the Government Pier is the most important of Tierra del Fuego and is located on the north-west side of the bay with a total mooring length of 3,609 feet with drafts that vary between 12 and 36 feet alongside the pier. The variation of tides is approximately 5 feet, and the height of the pier at low tide is 11,5 feet.

Mr. Coppola said that funds have been requested from the federal government for the construction of further docking space with a front of over 650 feet, 92 feet wide and a deeper draft enabling 360 metres long "Queen Mary II" to moor in Ushuaia.