Wärtsilä’s fuel-flexible engines selected to reduce emissions on 2 new vessels for Brazilian operator

Photo: Wärtsilä Corp.

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the main engines for two new pusher tugs being built for Brazilian operator Amaggi.  

The ships are under construction at the Beconal shipyard, located in Manaus, Brazil, and are designed with a focus on decarbonized operations.  

The engines will run on biodiesel, a capability that was a key factor in securing this contract.  

The order with Wärtsilä was booked in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

“The fuel flexibility of the Wärtsilä engines will enable these two new pusher vessels to operate using environmentally sustainable biofuels,” said Claudinei Zenatti, Amaggi’s logistics and operations director.  

“By using biodiesel, these engines are expected to lower total greenhouse-gas emissions, supporting both our company’s environmental commitments and the broader goal of delivering more sustainable river transport,” Zenatti added.  

The ships will each operate with two Wärtsilä 20 engines, equipped with a Wärtsilä data-collection unit (WDCU).  

The engines are able to run on either diesel or biodiesel fuel with a total power output of 2,100 kilowatts.  

This will allow each ship to push as many as 20 barges, carrying a total of 32,000 tons of grain on the Amazon inland waterway system.  

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard beginning in August 2026. 

“Amaggi is the first pusher-tug operator to run entirely on biodiesel—a step aligned with our shared commitment to decarbonized shipping,” said Genil Mazza, Wärtsilä Marine’s newbuilding sales manager for Latin America.  

“The WDCU will enable accurate monitoring of the engines, which promotes performance reliability and the benefit of extended overhaul intervals,” Mazza said.  

Amaggi operates a river fleet comprising 212 barges and pusher vessels.  

Wärtsilä and Amaggi share a longstanding partnership, having collaborated for more than 30 years to advance sustainable and efficient river-transport solutions in Brazil.