Milestones and Characters in the History of Prefectura

  Historic Uniforms and Institutional Symbols

Notes Regarding a Functional Tradition

The Spanish Crown transferred to its colonies the administrative structures of the peninsula.

All rights and duties were described in the "Compendium of Laws of the Indias" that was promulgated in 1680 by King Charles II of Spain. In 1793, King Charles IV passed a bill regulating the activities of the Port Police and Port Captains, which dealt with licensing and certificating of pilots; inspections of vessels, their equipment and appliances; legal proceedings in cases of maritime incidents; offences or law infringement; clearance of vessels; procedures to control passengers and crew members; prohibition to dump wastes and debris into the water; monitoring of the sanitary board, etc. These duties are still being performed by Prefectura Naval Argentina.

All these activities went on for a long time with minor variations. During the May Revolution of 1810, Second Lieutenant Martín Jacobo Thompson was Captain of the Port. Many prominent men of our history held that position, for example: Matías de Irigoyen, Zapiola, Azopardo, Toll y Bernadet, Espora, Erézcano, etc.

It would be endless to describe the background of the functions that were vested in Prefectura, but it is obvious that its jurisdiction and tasks became solid as time went by, and the agency has taken on a qualified, definite role among all the institutions that form par of the national public administration.

On October 29th, 1896, the Argentine Congress promulgated Act No. 3,445, which gave Prefectura a legal framework. Nothing new was created by this law, as Prefectura continued with the same organization of the Spanish "Port Captainship". This Act clearly defined the role of the PNA, establishing its organization all along the maritime and river coasts, as well as in all ports within the national jurisdiction. Subsequent acts, such as Navigation Act (Law No. 20,095), have confirmed and expanded this Act. In 1969, a new Act was passed (Law No. 18,398). This is the present legal instrument that defines the mission and jurisdiction entrusted by the State upon Prefectura.

Milestones and Characters in the History of Prefectura

As a result of the increasing navigation traffic and trade at the port of Buenos Aires, the Spanish authorities established a Port Captainship Office in 1756 to serve as police authority in safety of navigation and port security and to perform the functions previously carried out by commanders of sea expeditions, governors, judicial officials and other authorities.

Mr. Juan Antonio Guerreros was appointed Port Captain, and other Spanish officers took over after him until 1806 when Martín Jacobo Thompson became the first "criollo" (son of European parents born in Argentina) to hold the position.

Prefectura became a National Institution

After issuing two decrees in 1810, our first Argentine Government, called Primera Junta, incorporated Prefectura as a national institution. The first decree was issued on June 25h, 1810, and stated that the Port Captainship Office should report to the Primera Junta, and not to the Spanish Navy Commander's Office, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The other decree, dated June 30th, was drawn up by Mr. Mariano Moreno, the Secretary of Government and War of the Primera Junta. By means of this last decree, Thompson was appointed Captain of the Ports of the United Provinces of the River Plate.

The first Captain of the Port of Argentine nationality was born in Buenos Aires, on April 23rd, 1777. He studied at the Real Colegio de San Carlos and in 1796, he enlisted into the El Ferrol Navy School, Spain, graduating as a junior officer in 1800.

He was sent to Buenos Aires and, in 1806, he was appointed Captain of the Port. He acted bravely during the English Invasions (1806 and 1807). Due to his support to the May Revolution of 1810, he was discharged from the Spanish Navy. However, the Argentine authorities gave him the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1813.

The Thompson's house was a center of arts and revolutionary ideas. Our National Anthem was sung there for the very first time on May 25th, 1813. Many important figures were present on that occasion, among them San Martín, Alvear, Cayetano Rodríguez, Blas Parera, Balcarce, Vicente López y Planes, etc. There is a famous oil-painting by Pedro Subercaseaux which depicts that event.

Thompson's work as Captain of the Port went on until 1815. It was through his effort that many rules were enforced, such as the regulation of Captainship Offices in 1814; regulations for the promotion of Ensenada and Barracas ports; and regulations forbidding the dumping of ballast into the water and governing shipbuilding, ships at ports, and so on. He was promoted to Colonel in 1816 and he was sent on a diplomatic mission to the United States. He died on board, while traveling back to Argentina, on October 23rd, 1819. His body was buried at sea.

Born in Buenos Aires, he started his career in the Spanish Navy. When the May Revolution broke out, he was sent to Buenos Aires in order to perform different activities. When the Spanish found out that he stood up for the revolutionary movement, he was sent back to Cadiz. He escaped to London and joined other countrymen. He returned to Buenos Aires in 1812, together with San Martín and Alvear, in order to serve the country.

He assisted San Martín in organizing the Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo (Mounted Grenadier's Regiment), and participated in the Chacabuco and Maipú battles, as well as in many other military campaigns.

Among other services rendered to the country, he served as Captain of the Port of Buenos Aires for the periods 1820-1821 and 1852-1853.

Colonel Seguí was born in Buenos Aires. As a young man, he stood out in different naval campaigns. In February, 1855 he was appointed Captain of the Port. He held this position for a long period of time until October 1868.

Thanks to his initiatives, significant regulations were enacted, such as the rules regarding River Plate Maritime Police, the police regulations for sea-going vessels within national ports, etc.

Diego de la Fuente was also born in Buenos Aires. He attended the medical school and, in 1858, he graduated as a physician. He was appointed Medical Doctor of the Port Captainship, and he held this position until 1865. From that time on, and as a result of the abolition of that position due to budgetary issues, he continued working for free, thus showing his altruist spirit.

He served as a military doctor and acted as such during the Paraguayan war. President Avellaneda appointed him Captain of the Port of Buenos Aires, and he held that position for as long as Avellaneda was in office.

Carlos Mansilla was the son of General Lucio Norberto Mansilla and Agustina de Rosas, sister of Juan Manuel de Rosas.

When Diego de la Fuente ended his office, Mansilla assumed the duties of Captain of the Port on a temporary basis, and his office was finally confirmed in July, 1880. By a decree dated January 31st, 1882, the Captainship was renamed Prefectura Marítima -this was the first time that the name Prefectura was mentioned– and in 1894, it was renamed Prefectura General de Puertos. Accordingly, Mansilla first held the position of Prefecto Marítimo, and then he became Prefecto General de Puertos. He held this position very efficiently until September 1895.

Apart from promoting regulations on navigation and ports, he strived to improve the institutional organization and the work conditions of its members, as shown by diverse projects which he successfully accomplished.

Prefecto General Correa Falcón was born in Merlo, province of Buenos Aires, on April 17th, 1897. On May 20th, 1918 he joined the institution and rendered services in the units of the Buenos Aires, Tigre, Rosario and Paraná ports.

He was also the commanding officer of the San Lorenzo, Pilcomayo, San Carlos de Bariloche, Boca and Riachuelo, Puerto Madero, Paraná, La Plata and Buenos Aires ports' units. In 1949, he was assigned to the Port Security and Judicial Police Service and to the Vice Commandant's Office. In 1951, he became responsible for the Southern Coast Area District.

As Prefecto Mayor, and by decree No. 19,390 dated September 29th, 1951, he was appointed Prefecto Nacional Marítimo, thus becoming the first senior officer of the Institution to hold said position. In 1953, he was promoted to Prefecto General. He held that position until 1955.

While in office, he was involved in different technical committees and performed tasks related to the police organization of his service and of other services. He was a member of the Technical Committee for National Customs and Ports Comptrollership, and he was assigned to the General Migration Directorate. He passed away in Mar del Plata on January 4th, 1985.

Historic Uniforms and Institutional Symbols

By 1920, the enlisted personnel of the Watch Service used to wear a white summer uniform with the typical seaman cap. It also had a white civilian-type hat with the name of the Service stamped on a black ribbon. The weapon used was a bayonet saber.

The current PNA badge -two crossed anchors- had already been used for letter headings at the times of the old Captainships of the Port of Buenos Aires in 1834. On October 6th, 1893, a Decree included the badge as part of the escutcheon placed on the front side of the senior officers' caps. In 1924, it was incorporated into Prefectura insignia, which consisted of a white, blue-bordered flag and two centered anchors in the same color.

This is a campaign escutcheon supported by two gold-plated crossed anchors and a vertical silver trident in the middle. A dolphin is facing a "Dorado" fish and they are both bordering the escutcheon, together with two silver ribbons. The inscription "PREFECTURA NAVAL ARGENTINA" is stamped on the top ribbon, and "ROBOUR ET QUIES IUXTA LITORA ET IN UNDIS" (courage and safety on shore and at sea) can be read on the bottom ribbon.