Paraguayan shipowner and operator ‘Girona S.A. – Rio Sur Transporte y Logistica’ has taken delivery of their new fleet addition  ‘Veronica V’, designed and built by  Dutch inland navigation shipyard Concordia Damen, further strengthening inland waterway transport capabilities in South America. The CDS 4115 Shallow Draft River Pusher will serve Girona’s customers along the 2695 km Paraguay River.

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.”