Argentina formalizes control council for Vía Navegable Troncal

The Argentine government has formalized the Control Council for the Vía Navegable Troncal (VNT), a body designed to monitor and provide technical oversight for the waterway's new private concession. The concession was awarded to Vías Navegables Argentina SA, a consortium comprising the Belgian company Jan De Nul and the Argentine firm Servimagnus. The consortium is responsible for maintenance, dredging, and buoyage works on Argentina's primary foreign trade route.

The Council will serve as a consultative space involving provincial representatives, waterway users, technical and social sectors, and the regulatory authority. It will operate through a plenary session held every two months and specialized working commissions. These commissions will focus on areas such as traffic monitoring, environmental management, navigation safety, infrastructure, and regional logistics.

While the commissions' technical reports and recommendations are non-binding, they will inform plenary discussions. The Executive Director of the National Agency of Ports and Navigation (ANPYN) will chair the Council and holds an institutional veto power. ANPYN is also tasked with providing bimonthly reports on navigation status, investment programs, and traffic evolution. The new management aims to reduce logistical costs, with anticipated tariff reductions scheduled for September.