VESSEL REVIEW | Veronica V – Pusher tug to support cargo transport along Paraguay River
Paraguayan family-owned river shipping and logistics company Girona Rio Sur Transporte y Logistica has taken delivery of Veronica V, a new pusher tug that will serve Girona's customers along the 2,695-kilometre (1,675-mile) long Paraguay River.
With river levels dropping for months during the dry season, the Paraguay River system was analysed and the resulting findings were used to create an efficient pusher vessel for these conditions. The tug's shallow draught of just under two metres (seven feet) will therefore ensure year-round navigation and high cargo efficiency.
Designed for inland sailing in South America
The tug adopts a design that had been developed specifically for the conditions of inland waterways in South America, particularly the Paraguay and Parana Rivers. The design was improved further based on in-house research, client feedback, and the specific requirements of the owner.
The newbuild has an LOA of 41 metres (130 feet), a moulded beam of 15.5 metres (50.9 feet), a maximum deadweight of 380, and space for up to 15 crewmembers. In a push-barge configuration with 12 barges, the combination will measure 281 by 48 metres (922 by 160 feet) to enable large-scale cargo transport with maximum operational efficiency.
Three Yanmar 6EY22AW engines that each produce 1,330 kW (1,780 hp) at 900 rpm drive nozzle-housed propellers to deliver a service speed of seven knots. The propulsion arrangement also includes two Cummins QSB-7DM 122kW generators.
The tug’s tank capacities are 421 cubic metres (14,900 cubic feet) for fuel oil, 42 cubic metres (1,500 cubic feet) for freshwater, and 7.3 cubic metres (260 cubic feet) for blackwater. A watermaker is also fitted.
Continued operation even in shallow-draught conditions
The crew accommodation includes ten cabins, a galley, a mess, a meeting room, and a fitness area.
Girona will primarily deploy the tug and barge combination for transporting soy and other types of bulk cargo along the Paraguay and Paraná Rivers, where low water levels are a recurring challenge during the dry season. Thanks to their shallow-draught design, the vessels can maintain operations year-round, even when the water level drops to less than two metres.
