HGK Shipping celebrates double christening of the chemical tankers “Courage” and “Curiosity”

On May 4, 2023, HGK Shipping named its two latest additions to the fleet “Courage” and “Curiosity”. The innovative chemical tankers have been in use on the Rhine and its tributaries for several weeks on behalf of the materials manufacturer Covestro. With the two sister ships, HGK Shipping is consistently pursuing its strategy of developing future-oriented and tailor-made ships together with customers. The eye-catching color scheme of the two new buildings stands for the cooperation and partnership between HGK Shipping and Covestro.

The “Courage” and the “Curiosity” are among the most modern and innovative ships of their kind. The hull of the 93 meter long and 10.5 meter wide low-water ships, with its unusual aft and fore ship construction, is very voluminous and lightweight. All components installed on board have been tested and optimized for the possibility of reducing draft and weight. Using two rudder propellers with comparatively small diameters, HGK Shipping has succeeded in achieving excellent carrying capacity and the best low-water properties. With a draft of only 1.00 meters, the two sister ships are still able to carry 160 tons of cargo and are fully drivable and manoeuvrable.

“Courage” and “curiosity” can also score points when it comes to sustainability. They have a particularly efficient diesel-electric propulsion system that can reduce CO ₂ emissions by up to 30 percent compared to conventional ships. The emission of fine dust and other pollutants is also significantly reduced.

“In cooperation with our customers, we want to create sustainable and reliable transport chains. The ‘courage’ and the ‘curiosity’ take us a big step forward in this project. With the open-drive design, we have succeeded in setting another milestone for the waterway system, but also for us as a partner to industry in the joint fight against greenhouse gas emissions.”Norbert Meixner, Business Unit Director Liquid Chemicals HGK Shipping

“Inland navigation plays a crucial role in supplying the European market with hydrogen and at the same time this sector is best placed to do so in a sustainable and efficient way, using alternative fuels and innovative techniques,” says Matthijs van Doorn.

Steffen Bauer, CEO HGK Shipping: “The seaport of Rotterdam plays a key role in supplying European industry and the energy sector during the hydrogen ramp-up. As an important hydrogen port, it is dependent on an efficient hinterland connection, which we as the HGK Group map via the waterway system. Together we can develop the future supply flows of the energy industry, also for our parent company, the Stadtwerke Köln Group, and thus enable reliable and secure access to renewable energy sources”.

For around two years, all new ships built by HGK Shipping have also been planned and implemented as “Future Fuel Ready” or “H2 Ready”. The “Courage” and the “Curiosity” are also built according to this concept. Two empty spaces, so-called “void spaces”, are integrated in the ship’s hull, which can be equipped with storage solutions and the necessary technology for alternative energy sources at a later date.

“With the two new ships, we can not only make our supply chains on the Rhine more reliable, but also more sustainable. With the future conversion to renewable energy sources, we can take an important step on the way to climate neutrality and the circular economy. We look forward to continuing down this path together with HGK.”dr Uwe Arndt, Head of Logistics EMLA Covestro

The “Courage” and the “Curiosity” were again designed by the team from the HGK Shipping Design Center from the basic idea, developed through the engineering and hydrodynamic optimization and successfully implemented up to delivery. The respective hull was built by the Severnav Shipyard in Romania. The turnkey partner of HGK Shipping, the Dutch shipyard De Gerlien van Tiem BV, then took over the dismantling until commissioning.