The Hanseatic on European Rivers

Monday, November 02, 2009

The Hanseatic League was a highly successful trading alliance among northern European cities from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Some German cities continue to maintain an association under that name. Now the name Hanseatic is proudly emblazoned on the bow of a powerful inland-river boat built in the Netherlands for German owners.

The new MS Hanseatic I will be working the European rivers under the ownership of the Haak family. Like most of Europe’s inland vessels the accommodation in both the family quarters aft and the focsle are well equipped for creature comfort. To service the resulting electrical needs the vessel is fitted with a total of three Cummins 4BT3.9-G4-powered 45 kW generators sets. As is the practice on these rivers, larger capacity vessels are composed of the aft house powered cargo vessel with a second un-powered barge articulated forward of the first. This takes maximum allowance of the lock sizes. To mange this great length both the powered vessel and the barge are fitted with powerful bow thrusters. In this case the vessels each have thrusters powered by Cummins QSK15-C generating 410 kW (550 hp) each at 1800 RPM. These can be used to assist in directing the vessel into the locks as well as for stopping them once they are in the lock.

Used in conjunction with the vessels main engines the boat handler can be very precise in the positioning of the vessel. In the main engine room aft, the builders have installed twin Cummins QSK50-M mains engines each generating 1194 kW (1,600 hp) each at 1800 RPM. With a total installed propulsive power of 3208 kw (4362 hp) from all four engines this will be one of the most powerful vessels of her class on the European inland river system.

The MS Hanseatic I will also bear testament to the tenacious perseverance of the maritime trading ideals of the ancient Hanseatic League.