Ushuaia makes room for more cruise shipsUshuaia makes room for more cruise ships

Idle drydock removed

This was possible thanks to the removal of an Argentine navy floating drydock that sat unused for approximately 20 years. The governor of Tierra del Fuego requested the change, which required the involvement of several areas of the national government. The Ministry of Transport entrusted the project to Gonzalo Mórtola, comptroller of the General Ports Administration.

Mórtola collaborated with the navy and the prefecture to obtain authorization and move forward with landside improvements financed by the Provincial Directorate of Ports of Tierra del Fuego.

Following a visit to the port in April, Mórtola and Undersecretary of Ports and Waterways Mariano Saúl agreed on the importance of recovering the berthing space and relocating the drydock. Once repaired, the dock will be used by the navy to service boats that patrol and protect southern Argentina.

Maiden calls and 16% passenger increase

Thanks to the investments in infrastructure and the low rates implemented by the national government to boost the cruise industry in the region, this season Ushuaia is receiving 36 cruise calls, many of them maiden visits, and a 16% increase in cruise passengers from last year.

Dredging and cost-cutting

In addition, the large ships Celebrity Eclipse and Royal Princess were able to dock without problems thanks to the dredging carried out by the province with the collaboration of the Port Buenos Aires. Also, fuel costs were decreased, leading to more bunkering in Argentine ports instead of in Chile.

'It is important to continue moving forward with the necessary infrastructure works so that more and more cruise ships visit us,' Mórtola said. 'This promotes tourism, generates work and allows more and more people to know the attractions of our country.'