Germany's HGK Shipping christens electric inland cargo vessel

Germany's HGK Shipping formally named its newest inland vessel during a ceremony in Hamburg on Thursday, July 3.

Blue Marlin features diesel-electric propulsion and technology that allows remotely controlled navigation. There is also an onboard solar module system that can generate up to 37,500 kWh of electricity per year, and this electricity can be used to power the ship.

The ship will mainly transport steel and bulk goods in the north-west German canal network on behalf of local steel manufacturer Salzgitter.

HGK said Blue Marlin is "canal-optimised" with a length of 86 metres, a beam of 9.5 metres in width, and a navigable draught of just 1.1 metres. Two Veth azimuthing propellers and an additional bow thruster also enable the ship to be coupled with a pushed barge, which means that loads of up to 3,110 tonnes can be transported.

Design work on Blue Marlin was undertaken by HGK in close cooperation and Salzgitter. Construction of the hull took place at Orsova Shipyard in Romania while the technical outfitting was completed by De Gerlien van Tiem in the Netherlands.