Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), a maritime services provider, is warning tour operators of strict new port regulations in Ecuador and advising tour agents to present documentation promptly to ensure new regulations are met in time for the start of the cruise season in October.
According to the new regulations which have come into immediate effect by The Sub Secretary of Ports and Maritime Transportation, any tour operator that operates with cruise line passengers arriving at any Ecuadorian Port must obtain a license to operate, in addition to the regular license issued by the Tourism Ministry. Depending on your company profile the permissions and license to operate at any Ecuadorian port includes port ship operators, port cargo operators, port services operators and port passenger operators.  Tour operators belong to the license category “port passenger operators”.
ISS is advising customers that the largest impact of this new regulation is any tour agent assigned by a cruise liner needs to obtain a license with the authority, (Subsecretaria de Puertos y Transporte Marítimo y Fluvial), in order to pick up any cruise passengers for tours, embarking, disembarking or transit at any Ecuadorian Port. Without this permission, passengers will not be allowed to go on tours with their tour agent, nor are terminals expected to allow the entrance of tour agents.
The new permission/license required must be obtained directly by the tour agent and not through the port agent, nor can port agents act as tour operators.
ISS Ecuador will continue to monitor the effects in the country on behalf of ship owners and operators and will keep clients updated in the coming months as the cruise season gets underway.