Government Eliminates Regulations for Pilotage and Tug Services

The government has removed regulatory barriers in pilotage and tug services to reduce logistical costs for foreign trade. The measure, driven by the Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger, aims to increase competition. Through Decree 690/2026, a new regulation was approved that eliminates obsolete requirements, facilitates the entry of new providers, and allows users to freely hire pilots. The Argentine Naval Prefecture will maintain an open registry of authorized professionals, and the National Agency of Ports and Navigation (ANPYN) will set maximum rates that include all pilotage and tug tasks. Sturzenegger emphasized that the previous system had created entry barriers, reducing competition and increasing prices. The regulation also relaxes conditions for the transportation of pilots, allowing commercial vessels that meet safety standards, and updates criteria for the exemption from the mandatory use of pilots. The dimensions of vessels from which it is mandatory to hire a pilot have been expanded, and geographical market segmentation has been eliminated.