Ro RO ship “Expreso Plata I” will connect Juan Lacaze ports with Buenos Aires and is expected to move some 20,000 trucks per year

 

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 port of Juan Lacaze with Buenos Aires, Argentina, and which began operations on May 30. According to the National Ports Association (ANP). The ship, which is 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 the need to maneuver 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 also 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 a frequency of 10 trips per week from Monday to Friday, or an average of 33 per month. The service will depart from Juan Lacaze at 4:00 a.m. and will arrive in Buenos Aires at 8:30 a.m., to return at 8:00 p.m. from the Argentine capital and return to the Uruguayan port at 00:30 a.m. 

 

This addition will reduce operating costs for carriers and improve safety, in addition to reducing wear and tear on trucks and routes, as they will have to travel fewer kilometers. In addition, there will be an environmental improvement as a result of the reduction of the carbon footprint due to the reduced use of the units. In addition, the implementation of this new river line for roll-on/roll-off cargo will have a positive impact on Juan Lacaze by promoting the creation of jobs and indirect services.