Discord in Buenos Aires

In addition, little has been heard from the terminal operators, who seem more concerned with day-to-day matters and internal wrangling than with the long-term future of the port.

However, according to the newspaper La Nación, Argentinian citizens are not so reticent and are now beginning to question this apparent lack of interest. For example, a lady from the interior of the country, with little knowledge of the port industry, was recently moved to write and ask why this confused situation had arisen and why apparently no progress had been made in tackling the confusion? Despite her suggestion that it was time the interested parties, including those not directly involved in the ports industry, started a debate in order to try to get a clarification “of this mess”, even this commonsense appeal from a concerned citizen has had absolutely no effect.

Indeed, the position has now deteriorated further, with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) becoming embroiled in port affairs. The company has made serious allegations to the Commission for the Defence of Competition against two concessionaires, Terminal Rio de La Plata (TRP) which operates terminals 1, 2 and 3, and BACTSSA on Terminal 5, as well as port administrator the AGP. The allegations relate to the bidding process for Terminal 6, from which Philippines-based operator International Container Services Inc (ICTSI) has been disqualified. ICTSI is currently taking legal action over the disqualification.