Innovative Fender Solution for Barges Operating in the Uruguay River at Nueva Palmira Port

Located at the source the Uruguay river, the Port of Nueva Palmira is Uruguay’s second-largest by volume and plays a key role navigating South America’s inland waterways and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Within the port’s Free Zone, Corporación Navíos has expanded its private infrastructure for liquids and minerals. The latest addition is a modern river quay, capable of simultaneously operating three barges and accommodating up to 48 units.

ShibataFenderTeam provided its expertise by designing the fender solution for this new river quay comprised of 16 V Fenders (V-P 500×1000 mm, G3.0) and two double V Fenders (800×2950 mm, G3.1). The project scope also included 12 Cleat Bollards, each with a 40-ton capacity, and four T-Head Bollards with an 80-ton capacity.

Engineering Expertise for River Dynamics

River terminals face significant challenges due to fluctuating water levels and currents. These variations can lead to steep level differences, making it difficult for barges to berth safely. Conventional solutions, such as placing fenders directly on the upper quay structure or the use of standard steel panels, have been used over the years but have failed to address the challenge, often resulting in barges getting caught beneath the fender.

To address these issues, our in-house engineering team developed this innovative solution featuring a bracket at the end of the fender, which connects to piles drove to the riverbed. This design ensures that the barge always makes contact with the piles at any river level, transferring the berthing energy to both the fender and the quay structure. Proven to be highly effective, this configuration provides a long service life for the fender system and the supporting structure, while offering adaptability to the fluctuating conditions of river terminals.

As the leading fender manufacturer, ShibataFenderTeam excels at meeting the unique demands of terminal operations, whether in saltwater or river environments, and it is honored to have played its part in a project that marks an advancement in the region’s logistics operations.