In order to continue advancing in solutions that allow dealing with the logistical problems that affect the country, the main players in the export and import sector presented the Government with a package of 12 measures that include actions to improve the management and operation of port terminals during high season.

Among the actors behind this proposal are the Chilean Maritime and Port Chamber (Camport) and the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (Asoex), in addition to other actors in the logistics chain.

Among the initiatives, it is proposed that during the high season the SAG and Customs personnel be increased, especially in the terminals through which the highest percentage of fruit is exported, in order to reduce downtime and in turn speed up the process of exporting fruit. Fruit.

Likewise, terminals and shipping companies aim to improve the efficiency in the operation of the terminals and the planning of shipments through different actions, such as managing a greater use of the third shift with carriers for the movement of empty containers, and encouraging the use truck scheduling systems.

For their part, the exporters seek to take steps so that both Puerto Ventanas and the Espigón de Valparaíso and the Port of Coronel can ship fruit, in order to complement the capacity of the terminals normally used.

The president of Asoex, Iván Marambio, affirmed: “The coordination that we have achieved among the various actors is very important to face in a coordinated manner the challenges that the new export season imposes on us and continue to position Chile as one of the main exporting countries of fruit worldwide.

To this is added supporting the initiatives of the Ministry of Transport established in the Government's Collaborative Logistics Plan (PLC) related to the documentary regularization of foreign drivers to increase the personnel available for driving trucks to and from the ports, as well as the measures aimed at the operation of the night shift by carriers.

According to Daniel Fernández, president of Camport, the proposed measures imply a joint effort between the public and private sectors to promote an efficient logistics chain for the high fruit season. "This set of initiatives will allow managing and optimizing foreign trade by sea, through concrete actions such as greater coordination and information between different public and private actors, and efficiency improvements in the operation of the terminals."

Regarding measures to coordinate with the maritime authority, it is proposed to optimize the maneuvering conditions for the terminals, maintaining the necessary security measures, in order to improve compliance with ship itineraries, reducing the inactivity time of the port terminals. .

Additionally, in health terms, the actors in the export and import sector are seeking to streamline and standardize processes in all maritime terminals due to the fact that Covid controls have slowed down shipping operations. Along the same lines, the aim is to reduce the use of port terminals to store late loads and speed up the time needed for their destruction.

The Government is also being asked to speed up the procedures to have a cargo rail system in the central area as soon as possible, as well as improve road access to our ports.

Finally, regarding the development of infrastructure, the Government is requested to initiate the necessary studies to enable a cruise terminal in the central area, so that, during the high season for the fruit, which coincides with the high season for cruise ships, , the load transfer capacity of the terminals is not altered.