Case Study: Paraguay’s Tsuneishi Shipyard achieves powerful shallow-draft towboat performance with Cummins engines and generators

Paraguay’s Tsuneishi Shipyard - Customer Case Study

Paraguay’s Tsuneishi Shipyard, a subsidiary of the Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi, needed a powerful shallow-draft towboat for service on the Paraguay-Paraná River system, one of South America’s key inland trade routes. The challenge was to deliver a vessel with enough propulsion and reliability to move barges efficiently while operating in very low draft conditions.

Cummins supplied the propulsion and power package for the Tebicuary 3, including four KTA50 main engines, two NTA855-powered generator sets, and a 6B CS emergency generator, all supported by Cummins C Command electronic controls. The result was a 6,400 hp towboat with an operating draft of just 1.83 meters, improved fuel efficiency, and lower environmental impact by shifting cargo transport from trucks to barges.

Paraguay’s Tsuneishi Shipyard