Puerto Montt's Eduardo Arancibia is new Conosur president

He is the VP of Empresa Portuaria Puerto Montt (Empormontt) and a civil engineer with more than 15 years of management experience.

Other new board members

Arancibia will lead Conosur for the 2024-2025 period along with other newly elected board members: Mario Moya, president of Empresa Portuaria Arica, as VP; Juan Marcos Mancilla, logistics manager of Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso, second VP; Enrique Runin, president of Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco, as secretary; and Miguel Palma, GM of Empresa Portuaria Austral, as treasurer.

Arancibia, previously Conosur VP, said the officers will continue the work of the outgoing board, mainly the importance of generating a state strategy to position Chile as an attractive and competitive cruise destination, working together with all public and private actors.

He added the desire to maintain the best relations with state organizations related to the cruise industry, and neighboring countries to generate itineraries and all the players that benefit from cruising's economic activity, which creates jobs and gives opportunities to many Chilean entrepreneurs.

Advocating for extending cabotage rights

As well, Conosur will continue to advocate for extending cabotage rights to foreign-flag ships carrying under 400 passengers. Arancibia said this would help international cruise line without affecting domestic operators.

Another goal is developing new itineraries with other Pacific countries such as Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Arancibia also highlighted the 4% increase in passengers and calls during the 2023/24 cruise season, with 260,000 passengers bringing Chile closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Seatrade Cruise Global participation

'We had a successful participation in the Seatrade 2024 fair, work that was developed in conjunction with Sernatur and that had an important contribution from the Regional Government of Aysén. We hope presence as a country will be even more prominent in 2025, for which we will begin to work from now on with the authorities of the sector,' Arancibia said.