Posted on June 8, 2026
Argentina has taken another important step for the future of logistics and waterway transportation in South America. Last Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Argentine government confirmed the result of the bidding responsible for the dredging and maintenance of the Paraná River waterway, one of the most important cargo transport routes on the continent.
The information was released by the portal Portos e Navios, based on data from the Ministry of Economy of Argentina. According to the government, the Belgian company Jan de Nul was declared the winner of the bidding process and will continue to be responsible for essential services on the waterway, including dredging, maintenance, and improvement of navigability conditions.
The decision reinforces the continuity of an operation that has been ongoing for decades. After all, Jan de Nul has been operating on the Paraná River waterway since 1995, accumulating experience on a route considered strategic for Argentine foreign trade and for several countries in the region.
According to the Argentine Ministry of Economy, the Belgian company presented the winning proposal to manage fundamental services in the bidded section.
However, the process is not yet fully concluded. This is because the company DEME NV, also from Belgium and the runner-up in the competition, still has time to present any appeals or questions about the result.
On the other hand, the Brazilian company DTA Engenharia did not advance to the final phase of the analysis. As informed by the Argentine authorities , the company was left out of the decisive stage due to issues related to the requirements set out in the bidding notice.
With the winner defined, the Argentine government’s expectation is to ensure more operational efficiency on the waterway, as well as to strengthen the competitiveness of the river transport system.
Furthermore, the continuity of investments in dredging and maintenance is expected to contribute to increasing navigation safety and improving the flow of vessels that use the route daily.
