Full Breakdown
Argentine Province Condemns British-Flagged Oil Tanker Docked in Ushuaia
8/28/2026, 2:37:03 AM
Provincial Government Condemns the Vessel’s Presence
The administration of Tierra del Fuego, led by Governor Gustavo Melella, issued a statement denouncing the mooring of the British-flagged oil tanker VS Promise in the port of Ushuaia. The declaration called the incident “unacceptable” given Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and surrounding maritime zones. The province cited provincial law 852, which prohibits the entry, mooring, or resupply of ships flying the British flag as a rejection of what Buenos Aires terms the United Kingdom’s “illegitimate occupation.” The statement also criticized the national government’s justification for its intervention in the port, arguing that the action contradicts the stated aim of safeguarding sovereignty and national interests.
Background: National Intervention and the Falklands Issue
In January, President Javier Milei intervened in the Port of Ushuaia, citing alleged misappropriation of funds and infrastructure problems. The move removed the port authority and its multimillion-dollar revenues from provincial control, heightening tensions between the central government and the province, whose governor is a vocal opponent of Milei. The dispute over the Falklands has long been a sensitive Argentine issue and was amplified this year by a high-profile incident during the FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and England, when fans displayed a hand-painted “Malvinas are Argentine” flag on the pitch.
Vessel Details and Recent Activity
The VS Promise is a 228-meter-long tanker with a 32-meter beam and a deadweight capacity of 73,800 tons, capable of carrying roughly 500,000 barrels of crude. The ship is registered to Valloeby Promise Ltd, based on the Isle of Man. Ship-tracking platforms show the vessel remained at the Río Cullen oil terminal until August 13 before moving to Ushuaia.
Official Responses and Ongoing Tension
As of the latest report, the Milei administration had not publicly responded to the provincial complaints or clarified the authorization that allowed the tanker’s entry. The province warned it would not remain indifferent to unilateral decisions by the central government, signaling a potential escalation of the jurisdictional dispute over the strategic port that serves as a gateway to Antarctica and the South Atlantic.
