Located at the source of the Uruguay River, the Port of Nueva Palmira is Uruguay’s second-largest port by volume and plays a crucial role in navigating South America’s inland waterways, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Within the port’s Free Zone, Corporación Navíos has expanded its private infrastructure to handle liquids and minerals, recently completing a state-of-the-art river quay. This facility is capable of operating three barges simultaneously and accommodating up to 48 units.
ShibataFenderTeam contributed its expertise to this project by designing a tailored fender system for the new river quay. The system includes 16 V Fenders (V-P 500×1000 mm, G3.0) and two double V Fenders (800×2950 mm, G3.1). The scope also covered 12 Cleat Bollards, each with a 40-ton capacity, and four T-Head Bollards with an 80-ton capacity.
Furthermore, river terminals pose unique challenges due to fluctuating water levels and currents, which can create significant level differences and complicate the safe berthing of barges. Traditional methods, such as mounting fenders on the upper quay structure or using standard steel panels, often fail to address these challenges, sometimes leading to barges becoming trapped beneath the fenders.
To overcome these issues, ShibataFenderTeam’s in-house engineering team developed an innovative solution that incorporates a bracket at the end of the fender. This bracket connects to piles driven into the riverbed, ensuring that barges consistently make contact with the piles regardless of water levels.
In addition, this design effectively transfers berthing energy to both the fender and quay structure, enhancing the system’s performance and extending its service life. It also provides the flexibility needed to adapt to the variable conditions of river terminals.
