Argentina’s primary ports are currently immobilised, with over 150 vessels trapped in the nation’s waterways. This disruption follows a strike initiated by harbour pilots and river guides on Saturday, in response to a decree from President Javier Milei that seeks to deregulate their profession. Harbour pilots, maritime pilots, and river guides operate as independent professionals, possessing specialised expertise in navigating local waterways. They are tasked with the safe navigation of both Argentine and foreign vessels into and out of ports, as well as along inland rivers, and their presence is essential throughout a significant portion of Argentina’s commercial waterway system. Reports indicate that sources within the agribusiness sector have stated that over 150 ships are currently unable to enter or exit ports due to the necessity of pilotage services for navigating the waterways. The disruption is impacting both domestic and international trade, along with fuel supplies, as reported by the source.
The sector is expressing dissent against a decree released last week that fundamentally alters the regulatory framework overseeing maritime pilotage. The government says the measure is intended to reduce logistics costs and “improve the competitiveness of foreign trade.” Under the new regulations, both Argentine and foreign captains are permitted to navigate without the aid of harbour or maritime pilots, provided they secure a certification that attests to their adequate understanding of designated waterways, thus allowing them to operate independently of local pilot assistance. In response, the majority of local pilots have ceased accepting new assignments and are exclusively honouring services that were contracted prior to the commencement of the strike.
The stoppage does not conform to the conventional definition of a strike, as it lacks organization by a union. Harbour pilots and river guides operate as independent professionals rather than as employees, which grants them the autonomy to individually determine their acceptance of work opportunities. Nonetheless, the protest enjoys the support of the Professional Association of Captains and River Guides of the Merchant Marine union. Due to the absence of an employer-employee labour dispute, the Labour Secretariat is unable to intervene to mandate a conciliation process that would temporarily halt the protest. Over the weekend, the Argentine Coast Guard informed maritime pilots that they are required to resume their duties or risk facing potential sanctions, which may include criminal complaints. However, the Association of Captains and River Guides informed its members that the Security Ministry and the Presidency’s Legal Secretariat had indicated their intention to initiate discussions. Nevertheless, the union stated that it will engage in negotiations solely if the decree is either repealed or suspended. Nevertheless, government sources indicated that they are contemplating more stringent measures should the protest persist, which may include the filing of criminal complaints and the imposition of lifetime bans on providing pilotage services for those who continue the stoppage.
The association also articulated its “concern” regarding the decree’s potential implications for navigational safety, alongside the safeguarding of human life and the environment. “This Association believes that, once professionals have fulfilled the commitments they had already undertaken, they should not accept new assignments until conditions are in place that provide the legal and operational certainty necessary to carry out their work,” it said in a statement. The organization added that it is not seeking “confrontation” but rather “warning about the risks that could arise when an essential navigation safety service is provided in a context of regulatory uncertainty regarding professional, civil, and criminal liability.” And “The duties of the pilot or local guide cannot be considered replaceable by the vessel’s command when technical and regulatory circumstances require the intervention of these specially qualified professionals.”