Harbor, river and sea pilots across Argentina have launched an open-ended strike in protest against a presidential decree that deregulates the sector and allows some vessels to operate without their services.
The walkout could disrupt the arrival and departure of ships, affecting foreign trade. Maritime and river pilots — professionals with expert knowledge of local waterways — are responsible for guiding ship captains safely in and out of ports and along local rivers.
Their presence is mandatory on much of Argentina’s commercial waterway network, meaning trade could be partially disrupted if the strike continues.
Over the weekend, harbor and maritime pilots received notifications from the Argentine Naval Prefecture ordering them to report for duty to provide “mandatory service” after the strike was announced on Saturday.
The notice said authorities were aware that companies providing pilotage services were “currently unable to provide assistance due to the lack of available harbor pilots.”
