Paraguay incorporates new Japanese-donated dredger for waterway

Paraguay has officially incorporated the DRM-5 ‘Paraguay’ suction dredger into the fleet of the National Administration of Navigation and Ports (ANNP). The vessel was donated by Japan through a non-reimbursable cooperation grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), representing an investment of US$ 23.7 million.

President Santiago Peña led the official ceremony in Asunción, noting that the vessel is critical for maintaining the navigability of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway. This strategic route connects approximately 80% of Paraguay's foreign trade to international markets. For a landlocked nation, ensuring a reliable and operational fluvial system is a high priority for economic stability and regional integration.

The DRM-5 features a length of 64 meters, a width of 12 meters, and a dredging capacity of approximately 1,500 cubic meters per hour. The vessel was constructed at the Fuji Kaiji Kogyo Co. Ltd. shipyard in Aioi, Japan, and arrived in the region via the heavy-lift vessel ‘Fairplay’.