ARGENTINE CUSTOMS – SHIP’S STORE LIST DECLARATION (Update March 2025)

Club correspondents Pandi Liquidadores S.R.L. based in Buenos Aires, Argentina have issued a “Circular 056/2025 Alert – Customs Searching Gang on Ship Store List Declaration (Update)”.

The update seeks to highlight a case where administrative proceedings were initiated against a vessel owing to the lack of declaration of the chemical stored in bulk for the vessel’s Selective Catalytic Convertor (SCR).

The correspondents have historically issued a number of circulars reporting on issues encountered with Argentinian customs resulting in administrative proceedings, fines and demands for facilitation payments due to alleged discrepancies in the ship's store list declarations. The previous updates from the correspondent are retained in trail within the latest update “Circular 056/2025 Alert – Customs Searching Gang on Ship Store List Declaration (Update)”.

The correspondents advise that they are seeing a peak of disputes, particularly in ports such as San Nicolas, Campana, San Lorenzo and Rosario. There are also reports of facilitation payments having been demanded by some officers.
In 2018, under the General Resolution 4317, the Argentine Customs Authorities introduced a standardised form for store list declarations, the objective being to improve uniformity in custom declarations. The Club correspondents have reported that this has assisted in reducing the number of customs disputes.
The Master and Chief Engineer should take note of the updated information when completing the Argentinian ship’s store list declaration forms. It is recommended to take advise from the ship’s appointed local agents and pay attention to the following aspects in completing the declaration forms.

• Master jointly with the Chief Officer and Chief Engineer should carefully prepare the ship’s store list declaration forms.
• The Chief Engineer should carefully check and accurately record the quantities of fuel, lube oil and chemicals held on board, and record the quantities in the correct units taking into account any consumption till arrival into port to reflect the quantity representative of the time when the declaration is made.
• Lube oil quantities have been reported as a frequent element of dispute and the practice recommended is to include lube oil held in tanks, drums, cans and in service (engine sumps, header tanks, hydraulic system tanks, etc).
• The Master should exercise diligence in reviewing the declared items and quantities prior submitting the ship’s store list declaration forms.
• The Master should retain a copy of the submitted ship’s store list declaration forms, either countersigned forms or email if sent electronically.
• The ship’s store list declaration forms should not be signed by the Master until a thorough review has been completed and fully satisfied.

It is recommended that if any issues are encountered with the Argentinian custom officials, the Master should immediately contact the local P & I correspondent

This information notice is in addition to the Club’s article on the requirements of the ARGENTINA: New Ship's Stores List Forms.

Should the member require any clarification and /or additional information in relation to this circular and/or attached forms please do not hesitate to contact the Club or the local correspondents Pandi Liquidadores S.R.L