Concordia Damen has delivered the CDS 4115 Shallow Draft River Pusher, Veronica V, to Girona S.A. – Rio Sur Transporte y Logistica, a prominent Paraguayan shipowner and operator. The vessel will enhance Girona’s fleet and strengthen its inland waterway transport capabilities along the 2,695 km Paraguay River, a vital artery for trade and logistics in South America.
With river levels dropping for months during the dry season, Concordia Damen’s engineers have meticulously analysed the Paraguay River system to create an efficient pusher vessel for these conditions. Its shallow draft ensures year-round navigation and high cargo efficiency. The 5.400 HP river pusher is a further development of the shipyard’s earlier pushers.
The CDS4115 type measures 41 x 15.5 m. In a push-barge configuration with 12-barges, the combination will measure 281m x 48 m, enabling large-scale cargo transport with maximum operational efficiency.
Rio Sur will primarily deploy the combinations for transporting dry bulk cargo along the Paraguay-Paraná Rivers, where low water levels are a recurring challenge during the dry season. Thanks to the CDS4115 Shallow Draft design, they can maintain operations year-round, even when the draft drops to just 6.0 feet—a significant advantage over many other push boats navigating these waterways.
Bert Duijzer, Technical Manager at Concordia Damen, said: “We are proud that Girona S.A. – Rio Sur Transporte y Logistica Has partnered with us for this project. This delivery demonstrates our ability to provide tailor-made vessels that meet the specific operational challenges of inland waterway transport in South America.”
