Problems continue in the Paraguay-Paraná waterway: ships could be intercepted

Paraguay’s River and Maritime Shipowners Center (Cafym) expressed concern over the collection of tolls on the waterway due to its impact on Paraguay’s logistics and production chain, according to La Nación.

Since last March, the Argentine government has begun to issue invoices to all companies that use the waterway to transport goods and raw materials.

However, these have not been paid so far because the organizations initiated a rejection process.

Opposing payment is being carried out with two objectives: to show their disagreement and stop the situation in the short term.

However, so far, no permanent solution is in sight.

Circumstances are worsening as non-paying vessels risk being intercepted by the Argentine government.

POINT OF CONFLICT

Cafym’s president, Esteban Dos Santos, stated in conversation with 1000 AM that while Argentine vessels can pay tolls in Argentine pesos, foreign-flagged ships pay a fee of US$1.47 per net registration.

This amount would cause navigation charges to rise, reaching US$40 million annually.

Dos Santos added, “The issue is that 90% of the ships using this zone are Paraguayan flagged.”

“Paraguay is the main contributor of the total cargo that moves, some 23 million tonnes that move in the entire waterway: 14 million tonnes is Paraguayan cargo”.

The executive calls the attitude of the Argentine government “worrying”.

This will be discussed soon, as the states that make up the waterway agreement will meet next May 17, after the first date was postponed at Argentina’s request.

With information from MundoMaritimo