Liverpool, United Kingdom – Grupo Servicios Marítimos (GSM) was honored in Liverpool as the winner of the IBJ Award 2025 in the prestigious “Environment Protection Award” category, presented by the International Bulk Journal (IBJ). The distinction recognizes the development of the Grisel N floating loading and unloading terminal, an unprecedented advancement for grain logistics in the region.

The award positions the Grisel N—the first floating terminal in Argentina capable of loading, unloading, and weighing grains—among the select group of global solutions with positive environmental impact in the river–maritime logistics sector. The project was evaluated within the shortlist of the Cargo Handling category, competing alongside leading companies from Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, Chile, and the United Arab Emirates.

The award was received in Liverpool by Mónica Navarro, CEO of Grupo Servicios Marítimos, together with Tomas Kisslinger, CEO of NEUERO, the German company responsible for the CombiFlexiport CF1000 pneumatic unloading system installed on the Grisel N. This key technology enhances operational times, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction.

An Innovative Solution for the Challenges of the Waterway

The international recognition highlights not only the project’s technological achievement but also its strategic response to one of the major challenges currently affecting the Paraná River basin: decreasing water levels and extraordinary droughts. These conditions have limited the full loading of Panamax vessels and increased logistics costs in recent years.

In this context, GSM—in partnership with NEUERO—developed a modular and self-sufficient unit capable of transferring grains from river barges to Panamax-type ocean vessels in the Río de la Plata’s Zona Alfa, significantly improving the efficiency of the national export system.

The main equipment, the CombiFlexiport CF1000, integrates unloading, weighing, and loading with high operational precision and strong performance under variable environmental conditions.

International Projection and Argentina’s Strategic Positioning

The IBJ Award is one of the most important global recognitions in the dry bulk sector, highlighting innovation, operational efficiency, economic impact, and contributions to sustainable development.

GSM’s achievement reaffirms the strength of Argentine engineering, placing the country on the global map of advanced logistics solutions and underscoring the strategic role of river-maritime technologies in the future of regional foreign trade.

Prestige in a Historic Setting

The IBJ Awards take place annually in Liverpool, the United Kingdom’s iconic port city, bringing together the world’s leading companies, innovators, and industry executives. The competition is known for its technical rigor, international scope, and focus on operational excellence.

Applied Engineering: From Concept to Real Operation

The project required a technically complex conversion process that included:

• structural reinforcement and hull redesign
• installation of new technical platforms
• electrical and hydraulic optimization
• advanced control systems
• certified stability for precision operations

The result is a floating terminal comparable to the world’s leading ports—designed, developed, and operated entirely in Argentina—with the ability to operate in low-draft areas without fixed port infrastructure.

The Grisel N was officially christened on April 14, 2025, in Buenos Aires and has since become a milestone for Argentine naval engineering and a replicable model for regions dependent on inland waterways.

A Vision for the Future

The Grisel N is more than a technical achievement: it is a testament to Argentina’s potential and to the forward-thinking approach of Grupo Servicios Marítimos, which continues to invest in scalable, efficient, sustainable, and competitive solutions for the global grain trade.

With this recognition, Argentina adds a new example of homegrown innovation—one capable of influencing the present and paving the way toward a more integrated, flexible, and resilient logistics future.