Prefectura Naval Argentina Orders Striking River Pilots to Resume Duties

A high-stakes confrontation between the federal government and maritime professionals escalated sharply when authorities issued a sweeping administrative and penal warning. The Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) published an official edict in the Boletín Oficial targeting 536 licensed river pilots, demanding their immediate return to the waterways after a work stoppage that began Saturday, August 1, 2026.

Decreto 690/2026 and the Deregulation Catalyst

The root of the ongoing standoff lies in a sweeping regulatory overhaul spearheaded by the Ministry of Deregulation and Transformation of the State, led by Federico Sturzenegger. The administration enacted Decreto 690/2026, which formally replaces a regulatory framework that had governed the sector since 1991. The reform introduces a complete structural shift across the nation’s maritime and fluvial networks.

Among its central provisions, the decree establishes a public registry of professionals managed directly by the PNA, removes traditional restrictions on entering the profession, and grants commercial users the freedom to contract service providers directly. Additionally, the Agencia Nacional de Puertos y Navegación (ANPYN) was empowered to establish tariff ceilings while requiring full transparency on service costs. The reform also eliminated geographical segmentations that previously forced vessels to rotate pilots during a single journey, while relaxing personnel transfer rules and widening contract exemptions for certain ships.

In response to the new framework, maritime groups implemented a total suspension of tasks across both national and international vessels, demanding that the central administration suspend or repeal the decree entirely. Union representatives argued that the changes threaten to reduce local workforce demand and put specialized jobs at risk.

Paralyzed Ports and 140 Stranded Vessels

The disruption has frozen maritime logistics along the vital Vía Navegable Troncal, bringing international trade to a standstill.

The impact is felt most acutely in the northern agricultural hubs of Gran Rosario, San Lorenzo, Timbúes, and Puerto General San Martín, where several grain carriers remain anchored and unable to operate. Operations have also stalled at southern terminals, including Bahía Blanca. Meanwhile, vessels transporting petroleum and gas have continued operating to protect internal supply lines.

Ultimatum, Administrative Summons, and Penal Warnings

Acting as the operational and disciplinary oversight body, the PNA issued an individual notification to 536 registered pilots signed by Prefecto Nacional Naval Guillermo José Giménez Pérez. The edict formally notifies and intimates the professionals to place their specialized pilotage services at the immediate disposal of the regular transport system.

The security force warned that continued defiance will trigger administrative disciplinary proceedings alongside criminal complaints under specific articles of the Penal Code. The edict explicitly cites Article 190 and Article 194.

Logistic Costs and Economic Stakes

The government’s push for deregulation is heavily anchored in arguments regarding domestic logistics costs versus international standards.