With a strategic view on national and regional challenges related to Antarctica, disaster risk management in the Magallanes Region, and the experience in project cargo transportation for the establishment of the Green Hydrogen industry, the third version of the seminar Security and Sustainability in the Maritime Port Sector was held, organized by the Magallanes Puerto Sostenible committee, which brings together 15 companies in the sector led by the Empresa Portuaria Austral (EPAustral).
The event was a space for learning and reflection to promote more sustainable port operations with high safety standards. “What we want is to have a space for discussion and analysis on issues that are important for sustainability. We are developing community and in that learning, topics of greatest interest were addressed,” explained Miguel Palma, president of Magallanes Puerto Sostenible and general manager of EPAustral.
Antarctica21, Agunsa, B&M, Bucalemu, DAP, EPAustral, Ian Taylor, IST, Patagonia Circular, Report, Tabsa, Transmares, Ulog, Ultraport and Ultramar make up Magallanes Puerto Sostenible.
In this 2025 edition, held at the Centro Cultural Claudio Paredes Chamorro in Punta Arenas before about 120 attendees, Palma participated in a conversation on project cargo transportation from an operational and risk management perspective, alongside representatives from four key operating companies, Sergio Vergara (Ian Taylor), Cristóbal Kulczewski (Tabsa), Diego Muñoz (Ulog) and Miguel Palacios (Ultraport).
“We had a conversation about what we learned and what the experience of unloading and moving wind turbines was like. It is a smaller-scale preview to see what type of services we have in the port, how the operators interact, what things we have to improve and learn, and in what things we are strong to position ourselves and provide services for this project cargo,” commented Palma.
On the other hand, Simón Fernández, a Navy officer and researcher at the Centro de Estudios Estratégicos de la Armada de Chile, addressed the challenges facing the country and Magallanes in the connection with Antarctica, where he detailed that his presentation aimed to “make known the current characteristics of Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams as gateways to Antarctica and the investment projects that are being developed to consolidate us as an Antarctic power.”
Also present were Juan Carlos Andrades, regional director of Senapred, and Rodrigo Santana, Zonal Austral sub-manager of the IST, who dialogued with attendees about disaster risk management plans. “In Chile we have a strong and comprehensive regulation in terms of requiring this instrument to be implemented at all levels,” detailed Santana.
