ShibataFenderTeam aids Nueva Palmira expansion

The port, located at the source of the Uruguay River, is Uruguay’s second-largest by volume and plays a key role in connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The latest expansion includes a modern river quay within the port’s free zone, designed to simultaneously accommodate three barges and handle up to 48 units.

Working with Corporación Navíos, ShibataFenderTeam supplied 16 V Fenders (V-P 500 by 1000 mm, G3.0), two double V Fenders (800 by 2950 mm, G3.1), 12 cleat bollards with a 40-tonne capacity, and four T-head bollards with an 80-tonne capacity.

The design addresses unique challenges faced by river terminals, such as fluctuating water levels and currents that create steep level differences, complicating safe barge berthing.

Traditional solutions, such as fenders mounted on the quay or using standard steel panels, often fail to prevent barges from becoming caught under the fender.

ShibataFenderTeam’s innovative design features a bracket at the end of the fender, which connects to piles driven into the riverbed. This ensures consistent contact between the barge and the fender, regardless of water level fluctuations, while transferring berthing energy to both the fender and the quay.