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Photo: Diego Izquierdo/Revista Puerto
Red Chamber Expands Its Plant and Moves Forward in Restoring Fishing Capacity
ARGENTINA
Wednesday, September 04, 2024, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
Red Chamber Argentina S.A. has announced a series of investments aimed at expanding its processing plant in Puerto Madryn and renewing its fishing fleet. The company's efforts include the addition of new vessels, as reported by Nelson Saldivia for Revista Puerto.
The U.S.-backed firm, which currently operates the assets of the former Alpesca while the Chubut state continues with its expropriation lawsuit, now employs over 600 workers under permanent contracts.
Company executives provided Revista Puerto with details about the expansion of its facilities, including the addition of a new 2,000-square-meter production area. The expansion includes new machinery for processing hake, and a designated area for producing king crab, which complements existing operations for processing shrimp and hake.
Photo: Diego Izquierdo/Revista Puerto
Ship Repair and Construction
Regarding the recovery of Alpesca's fleet — many of which were stranded along the Madryn coast or partially sunk in the port of Mar del Plata — Red Chamber Argentina reported that the first vessel to undergo repairs was the trawler Promarsa III. This vessel remained afloat during the storm of April 2014, when Alpesca's assets were under provincial government custody.
Next, the high-seas trawler Cabo Vírgenes, which had been abandoned and was nearly dismantled in the Mar del Plata port, was restored at the TPA shipyard and returned to service in 2021.
The company's investment program then continued with the construction of the freezer trawler Patagonia Queen at the Armón shipyards in Spain, replacing the Promarsa II, which sank at the Storni pier in 2014.
Meanwhile, the restoration of the freezer trawler Promarsa I is nearing completion at a Mar del Plata shipyard. This vessel, which has been under the Chubut state’s control since 2014, last fished in 2012.
Additionally, the company is in the process of replacing the trawler Cabo San Sebastián with the recently acquired Altalena, which will become operational once maintenance work and administrative procedures are completed.
Photo: Diego Izquierdo/Revista Puerto
Workforce Stability
The company's local management highlighted that its workforce now exceeds 600 employees on permanent contracts, ensuring year-round operations rather than seasonal ones. This strategy enables the company to maintain a steady supply of raw materials and sustain continuous production throughout the year.
As stipulated in the leasing agreement with the province, Red Chamber Argentina was required to hire former Alpesca employees, retaining their existing seniority. All employees nominated by the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Alimentación (STIA) have been progressively incorporated. Given the significant seniority and associated vacation entitlements, vacation periods are typically scheduled during plant maintenance downtime to ensure full staffing for the upcoming high season.
Photo: Diego Izquierdo/Revista Puerto
Productive Recovery
In summary, the company emphasized that its investment program has focused on productive recovery and restoring its fishing capacity. This includes reconfiguring the processing plant with a new production area and a comprehensive fleet restoration plan involving vessels such as the Cabo Vírgenes, Promarsa III, and the addition of the Patagonia Queen. The Promarsa I and Altalena, set to replace the Cabo San Sebastián, are expected to return to service soon. The company also plans to recover the trawlers Cabo Buena Esperanza and Cabo Dos Bahías, aiming for their replacement next year.
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