Technology group Wärtsilä will supply replacement engines for two inland waterway tug pusher vessels operating in Paraguayan rivers. The vessels are owned by ADM Naviera Chaco (ADM). The vessel modifications and new engine installations will be carried out in Asuncion-Paraguay. The orders were booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 and Q4 2024.

The new engines will enable a reduction of the environmental impact and increase the efficiency of the tug pushers. ADM’s stated target is to reduce emissions by 25 percent by 2035, and the advanced Wärtsilä engine technology is an important opportunity to advance that effort in South America.

“The Wärtsilä engines selected for this project have the fuel flexibility that we seek, especially as we look to the potential of alternative future fuels. At the same time, the project will help us to improve operational reliability and lower our maintenance costs,” says Raul Valdez, Logistic Director – ADM NAVIERA CHACO S.R.L.

The two vessels covered by this contract are the Decatur Lady and the Tendota. Each will be refitted with three Wärtsilä 20 engines. Delivery of the engines to the shipyard took place earlier this year. The Wärtsilä 20 is a well-proven compact, lightweight marine engine, offering fuel flexibility and reliable performance in genset and main engine applications.

“We are delighted that Wärtsilä engines have been selected for this important project, which highlights the marine industry’s shift to greater sustainability and increased efficiency. ADM’s vision to be the provider of choice to meet the demand for low-carbon intensity feedstocks is very much in line with Wärtsilä’s own commitment to supporting the industry’s decarbonisation efforts,” comments Hanno Schoonman, Director of Sales for AMER region – Wärtsilä Marine.

ADM is a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, with a transportation and logistics network that includes 2,500 barges and more than 160 boats.