In the last three months, hundreds of ships have operated in the national ports with a minimum number requesting watchmen, according to reports from the workers. Their main function is to supervise the provisions required by the ship while they are being loaded. The watchmen control everything that enters the ship and act as the link between it and the authorities. In addition, they are responsible for ensuring the safety of the ship, making sure everything operates correctly and supervising who enters or exits.
Regarding the situation of the MV Ceci ship in the port of San Lorenzo, José C. mentioned that the drugs were discovered thanks to the observation of the captain, highlighting the importance of having watchmen present during the loading of provisions to avoid situations like this. He emphasized that the watchman is an auxiliary of the Argentine Naval Prefecture and does not represent a significant additional cost for the shipping companies responsible for their hiring.
Ship watchmen, with more than 100 years of experience in this work, assure that their presence is fundamental to guarantee safety in the ports. Their salaries are financed by foreign companies and not by the state, being part of the operational costs of the vessels. They point out that the lack of watchmen can facilitate the entry not only of drugs but also of alcohol or other illicit substances.
Amid investigations into how nearly 500 kilos of cocaine entered the MV Ceci ship, it is suggested that the lack of ship watchmen, resulting from a government decree that made their hiring optional, may have facilitated this event. The watchmen assure that they play a fundamental role in preventing safety and environmental incidents in the ports, being a key element in supervising the loading and unloading of goods.
Regarding the tasks of the watchmen, they explain that they take care of various duties to guarantee the proper functioning of port operations, from controlling provisions to preventing incidents and communicating in case of emergencies. Despite their importance, they indicate that they are facing labor difficulties and demand to be recognized as a fundamental part of safety in the ports.
