New Brazilian-built pushboat for the Amazon

Construction was recently completed on a fleet of pushboats and barges for Cargill Transportation. The latest addition to this fleet of vessels, used for transporting soy beans on the Amazon River system, is a shallow-draught RApide 2000-Z2-class pushboat built at Estaleiro Rio Maguari in Belém.

The ‘Cargill Jau’ is the first of the new class of Robert Allan Ltd-designed pushboats and is designed to assist port manoeuvres Cargill’s terminals on the Amazon River. 

The 19.5- by 9.0-metre pushboats were designed to ABS and Brazilian NORMAM-02 requirements, and built under survey of Brazilian classification society Bureau Colombo. The wheelhouse is designed for maximum all-round visibility with a split forward control station providing maximum visibility to the foredeck working area of the pushboat as well as to the convoy of barges ahead. 

To increase operational flexibility accommodation for up to four people is provided onboard, even though intended operations will normally occur on shifts close to one of the terminals.

The deckhouse extends aft over the main propulsion components, which comprise a pair of Caterpillar C18 diesel engines, driving Schottel SRP 330 Z-drive units. The drives are fitted in tunnels designed to optimise flow while reducing draught. 


Alex Baird

Alex Baird is the Managing Director of Baird Maritime