The executive director of the National Agency of Ports and Navigation, Iñaki Arreseygor, met with representatives from the productive ecosystem of the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway to discuss a new international tender for the dredging and buoying of the river highway. Additionally, a significant event is expected in April: the first voyage of the largest Paraguayan vessel from Asunción to Buenos Aires.
The vessel, named "Don Toyo" in honor of the president of Toyotoshi, is a giant measuring 120 meters long and 30 wide with a capacity for 906 Teus. This ship will join the fleet of Paraguayan River Transportation, a company of the Toyotoshi group, alongside the cargo vessels "Enterprise" and "Reina del Paraná." The cost of this cargo ship was 15.5 million dollars.
On the other hand, the tender for the Waterway has been a hot topic. Eleven companies initially showed interest in the dredging, but ultimately only the Belgian company DEME made it to the final round and submitted a bid, creating logistical tensions and highlighting the importance of Buenos Aires as the main port in the region. Uncertainty about the future of port management in Buenos Aires and the constant demand for the transfer of functions to the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires is also in the spotlight.
While the company owning the "Don Toyo" ship chooses Buenos Aires over Montevideo to dock, due to previous agreements and political circumstances, the national government is investigating possible irregularities in the tender that may have affected competition and state interests. Export remains a fundamental pillar for the economy, and dredging the river is seen as an essential task to ensure cargo flow and avoid setbacks in navigation.
In a context of climatic variability, national producers remain vigilant against events like droughts or floods that can severely impact production. Concerns about maintaining navigability of the Waterway and logistical efficiency in the region are shared by various sectors, as key definitions regarding the future of this important river transport route are awaited.
