Wärtsilä Engines Selected for 2 Additional Inland Waterway Tugs

Wärtsilä has secured a contract to supply power systems for two additional inland waterway pusher tugs currently under construction at Brazil’s Estaleiro Rio Maguari shipyard. The vessels, commissioned by LHG Mining, will feature triple-engine configurations utilizing the Wärtsilä 20 platform.

The deployment of these tugs is intended to optimize iron ore transport from the Corumbá region along the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, a vital logistics artery for Brazilian mining exports. The order, booked in Q3 2026, includes a comprehensive support package consisting of spare parts, commissioning services, and a specific fuel oil consumption guarantee.

This follow-on order signals a strategic push by LHG Mining to standardize its fleet technical specifications to achieve greater operational consistency. By adopting a unified engine platform, the operator effectively lowers its inventory overhead for spare parts and simplifies maintenance training for crews operating across the challenging river conditions of the Paraguay-Paraná corridor.

For the regional shipbuilding sector, the deal reflects a shift toward longer-term lifecycle partnerships rather than simple procurement. By bundling commissioning support and extended warranties with the hardware, the project reduces the technical risk profile for the shipyard, ensuring that the vessel performance matches the stringent throughput requirements of the iron ore supply chain.