RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the presence of the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, the Ro Ro vessel “Expreso Plata I” was presented, which will be part of the maritime truck transport service that will connect the Juan Lacaze, Uruguay, with Buenos Aires, Argentina, and which will start operating on May 30.
According to the National Ports Association (ANP). The ship, 119 meters long and 21 meters wide, was launched in September 2021 at the Nantong Changginsha shipyard, Jiangsu (China).
The vessel has a special design that allows trucks to enter through the stern and exit through the bow without maneuvering in the hold, as the Buenos Aires terminal does not have a ramp to dock in the bow.
Its draft of less than three meters is ideal for access and operations in the port of Juan Lacaze at low tide and ideal for operating in the docks of Juan Lacaze and Buenos Aires, which have different heights.
The “Expreso del Plata I” is expected to move about 20,000 trucks per year, with ten trips per week from Monday to Friday, an average of 33 per month.
The service will depart from Juan Lacaze at 4 AM and arrive in Buenos Aires at 8:30 AM, to return at 8 PM from the Argentine capital and return to the Uruguayan port at 00:30 AM.
This addition will reduce operating costs for carriers and improve safety and reduce wear and tear on trucks and routes, as they will have to travel fewer kilometers.
There will be an environmental improvement resulting from the reduction of the carbon footprint due to the reduced use of the units. Likewise, the implementation of this new river line for roll-on/roll-off cargo will positively impact Juan Lacaze by promoting the creation of jobs and indirect services.
With information from MundoMarítimo