Conceptual nautical dimensions for Paraguay River Waterway amelioration works in critical stretches (Brazil)

The Paraguay River Waterway is a crucial axis for integration in South America, with a course of 3.442 km from Cáceres (Brazil) to Nueva Palmira (Uruguay). To provide the navigation, improve the safety, the reliability and efficiency of the waterway transport, for a minimum period corresponding to 90% of the year, interventions with amelioration works are necessary. Among them, dredging in critical stretches stand out, which currently present some form of obstacle to navigation, either by natural factors (widths, radius of curvature and depths) or by structures, such as bridges, and sand shoals. This paper proposes a reassessment of the current nautical dimensions based on new guidelines, assessing critical sections for depth, width, and radius of curvature. The aim is to increase safety and study the feasibility of expanding the waterway by accommodating larger convoys.