Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Rhine News

29 Feb 2024

Germany Opens Remote-Controlled Center for Inland Shipping

© SEAFAR

SEAFAR, a Belgian technology and service provider for remote-controlled inland waterway shipping operations, has set up the first Remote Operations Center in Germany; a project completed in conjunction with HGK Shipping and Reederei Deymann.The Remote Operations Center, opened on February 28, 2024, enables captains to navigate vessels on inland waterways from dry land, a development seen as central to stemming problems from the shortage of specialist workers. The partners are working with the public authorities to use the permits…

08 Feb 2024

Hydrogen-powered Vessel H2 Barge 2 Delivered

(Image: Holland Shipyards Group)

Holland Shipyards Group announced it has delivered H2 Barge 2, the second hydrogen-powered vessel for Future Proof Shipping.The vessel has undergone a complete retrofit from traditional internal combustion technology to cutting-edge hydrogen fuel technology. The project involved removing the main engine and reduction gearbox, replacing the diesel engine driving the bow thruster and diesel generators with a new modular propulsion system. This system includes electric motors, hydrogen tanks…

06 Feb 2024

SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers for Five New WSA Vessels

As the first innovative, future-orientated multipurpose vessel for the Waterways and Shipping Administration, MS Emmerich is the prototype for the series currently under construction. (Image: Bolle Shipyard)

SCHOTTEL reports it has been selected to equip five new traffic safety vessels for the German Rhine Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) with electrically driven SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers.The Bolle shipyard in Derben, Germany, has been commissioned with the construction of the modern multipurpose vessels following tenders submitted throughout Europe.The modern traffic safety vessels will each be fitted with two SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers type SRP 100 which are being produced for use with vertically mounted electric drive motors (L-Drive variant) for the very first time.

05 Dec 2023

Management Change at German Dry Bulk Shipper

(from left to right) Pascal Rodius, Monique Hezel-Reyntjens, Florian Bleikamp.
Copyright: HGK Shipping GmbH

Monique Hezel-Reyntjens will retire effective December 31, 2023, having worked in and led what is now known as BeKa HGK GmbH for almost 42 years. Her parents, Franz Josef and Corrie Becker founded the dry shipping company in 1982. Monique Hezel-Reyntjenshas played a significant role in the success story at BeKa HGK; she worked in the chartering section from the outset and in the course of time became a shareholder and has been its managing director up to now. She will be succeeded by Florian Bleikamp (34)…

21 Nov 2023

River Rhine in South Germany Closed to Shipping, May Reopen Soon

© CL-Medien / Adobe Stock

Parts of the river Rhine in south Germany remained closed to shipping on Tuesday after heavy rain this month but falling water levels could lead to a reopening later on Tuesday, navigation authorities said.Rhine river shipping remains stopped around the chokepoint of Maxau in south Germany, the German inland waterways navigation agency WSA said.

17 Nov 2023

HGK Orders "Future-Fuel-Ready" Dry Goods Carrier

Illustration: Illustration of the newly constructed dry goods vessel for Salzgitter Flachstahl (Copyright: HGK Shipping)

HGK Shipping ordered from De Gerlien van Tiem shipyard in Druten, Netherlands, a new, low-emission dry goods vessel, a vessel to be specially tailored to the requirements of Salzgitter Flachstahl. Equipped with a diesel-electric drive system and solar panels and designed to be “future-fuel-ready”, the new vessel is outfitted to make a contribution to the sustainability ambitions of HGK Shipping and Salzgitter AG. Once it goes into service, it will replace one of the three vessels from the existing fleet…

16 Nov 2023

High Water Closes Parts of Rhine River in South Germany to Shipping

Maxau Rhine Bridges - Credit: waechter-media.de/AdobeStock

Parts of the river Rhine in Germany have been closed to shipping because of a rise in water levels following recent heavy rain, German authorities said on Thursday.Rhine river shipping has been stopped around Maxau in south Germany, the German inland waterways navigation agency WSA said.High water means vessels do not have enough space to sail under bridges, preventing vessels reaching Switzerland.Central and northern sections of the river are open to shipping.Water levels are forecast to fall, allowing shipping to resume later on Thursday or on Friday, said the water level forecasting service

05 Oct 2023

Low Water Hampers Rhine River Shipping in Germany

Credit: CL-Medien/AdobeStock

Low water levels after recent dry weather are preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the Rhine river in Germany with surcharges added to the usual freight rates, commodity traders said on Thursday.Low water is hampering shipping on most of the river south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the chokepoint of Kaub, traders said.Some vessels can only transit Kaub about 50% full, depending on ship type, they said.Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates to compensate for vessels not sailing fully loaded, increasing costs for cargo owners.

18 Sep 2023

Shallow Water, No Problem: HGK Orders Gas Tanker with "Special Dimensions"

Technical drawing: a 3D ship’s drawing of the ‘GAS 96’. Source: HGK Shipping

Optimized to deal with shallow water levels, a diesel-electric drive system and an extra-wide design for the vessel are the main features of a gas tanker that HGK Shipping ordered from the Dutch shipyard, De Gerlien Van Tiem, on September 15, 2023. The latest addition to the fleet will enable the Duisburg, Germany inland shipping company to maximize cargo carriage even if water levels are low. “GAS 96” has been developed in close cooperation in line with the requirements of two large chemicals companies in the Netherlands and Germany.

07 Aug 2023

Powering the Transition to Zero-emissions with Hydrogen Fuel Cells

(Photo: Ballard Power Systems)

By now, it is a well-known fact that the marine industry contributes significantly to the greenhouse gasses causing climate change—and the impact is predicted to rise as the demand for shipping by sea increases. Action is needed now, and the majority of ship operators are adopting or planning zero-emission solutions to accommodate upcoming emission reduction targets.A key zero-emission technology that will be a critical enabler for decarbonizing the marine industry—now and in the future—is hydrogen fuel cells.Today…

02 Aug 2023

Rhine River Levels in Germany Back to Normal after Rain

Credit: diegograndi/AdobeStock

Heavy rain has raised water levels on the river Rhine in Germany to levels allowing cargo vessels to sail fully loaded, data from German inland waterways agency WSA said on Wednesday.Data from the WSA’s website Pegelonline showed that the last shallow sectors of the river around Cologne had now reached levels generally permitting full vessel loads.Dry weather in June meant the river became too shallow for vessels to sail fully loaded and ship operators imposed surcharges on freight rates to compensate for vessels sailing partly empty, increasing costs for cargo owners.

27 Jul 2023

Rain Raises Rhine River Levels in Germany; North Still Too Shallow

Cologne - Credit: Luis/AdobeStock

Heavy rain has raised water levels on the Rhine in Germany, but the river is still too shallow in central northern areas for cargo vessels to sail fully loaded, commodity traders said on Wednesday.The river is a major western European shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products. Dry weather in June meant it became too shallow for vessels to sail fully loaded and operators imposed surcharges on freight rates to compensate for ships sailing partly empty…

03 Jul 2023

Rain Raises Rhine River Water in Germany, North Still Too Shallow

© EdNurg / Adobe Stock

Water levels on the river Rhine in Germany have risen after rain but are still too low in northern and central areas for cargo vessels to sail fully loaded, commodity traders said on Monday.Dry weather in June meant the river became too shallow for vessels to sail fully loaded and vessel operators imposed surcharges on freight rates to compensate for vessels sailing partly empty, increasing costs for cargo owners.The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains…

05 May 2023

HGK Shipping Holds Double Naming Ceremony for Chemical Tanker Duo

German company HGK Shipping on Thursday held a naming ceremony for two chemical tankers “Courage” and “Curiosity” on 4 May 2023.The chemical tankers have already been in service for the materials manufacturer, Covestro, on the river Rhine and its tributaries for several weeks. The hulls of the shallow-water vessels are 93 metres long and 10.5 meters wide. The two sister vessels are able to carry a load weighing 160 tonnes in a draught of just 1.00 meter and still be fully operational and maneuverable…

08 Mar 2023

French Strike Disrupts Rhine River Traffic

© philipbird123 / Adobe Stock

Rhine river traffic came to a standstill in some places on Wednesday due to strikes against French government plans to raise the pension age, with sections of the river in France, Germany and Switzerland affected, a CGT union representative and Germany's Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) said.Around 1.28 million people in France had participated in a sixth day of protests on Tuesday against a draft law that would see the pension age delayed by two years to 64.A blockade at Strasbourg lock on the Rhine was cleared by police and an evacuation of the blockades at the Marckolsheim lock…

08 Mar 2023

Future-Fuel-Ready Courage Enters Service on the Rhine

 2 The low-water vessel, “COURAGE”, will supply Covestro’s customers with finished products from its business sites in North Rhine-Westphalia from now on. Copyright: Covestro Deutschland AG, Michael Rennertz

Following a successful initial loading operation and maiden voyage on the river Rhine, Covestro and HGK Shipping GmbH officially put into service the new low-water vessel called 'Courage' at the beginning of March. Designed 'future-fuel-ready', It is designed to supply the material manufacturer’s customers with finished products from the company’s business sites in North Rhine-Westphalia. Sister vessel 'Curiosity' will be delivered in a few weeks.The two low-water vessels sport a particularly efficient diesel-electric drive system…

13 Feb 2023

OCIMF Updates Safety Guide for Tank Barges and Terminals

© Henk Vrieselaar / Adobe Stock

Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the inland navigation sector with the support of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) have collaborated with other European organizations to produce the second edition of the International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-barges and Terminals (ISGINTT).The purpose of ISGINTT is to improve the safe transport of dangerous goods at the interface between inland tank barges and other vessels or shore facilities (terminals).

19 Dec 2022

How Climate Change is Altering River Shipping

© Rob Sheppard/Danita Delimont / Adobe Stock

Rivers are critical corridors that connect cities and ecosystems alike. When drought develops, water levels fall, making river navigation harder and more expensive.In 2022, water levels in some of the world’s largest rivers, including the Rhine in Europe and the Yangtze in China, fell to historically low levels. The Mississippi River fell so low in Memphis, Tennessee, in mid-October that barges were unable to float, requiring dredging and special water releases from upstream reservoirs to keep channels navigable.Conditions on the lower Mississippi may be easing somewhat…

15 Dec 2022

HGK Shipping Acquires BeKa HGK GmbH

HGK Shipping has been the sole shareholder of BeKa HGK GmbH since 14 December 2022. (from left) Christian Möhrmann, CFO HGK Shipping, Monique Hezel-Reyntjens, Managing Director BeKa HGK, Steffen Bauer, CEO HGK Shipping. Photo: HGK Shipping GmbH

Inland waterway shipping company HGK Shipping acquired the remaining 60% of BeKa HGK GmbH as of December 14, 2022, a strategic decision that the company says "significantly intensify its business activities on the Upper Rhine, Danube and Mosel rivers in its dry shipping division." The previous co-shareholder, Monique Hezel-Reyntjens, will continue to manage the business of BeKa HGK. With the takeover, BeKa HGK is assigned to the dry shipping corporate division within HGK Shipping.

29 Nov 2022

Western Baltic Engineering to Unveil New Electric Pusher Vessel Models at WorkBoat Show

©Western Baltic Engineering

Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is to unveil two new models of its electric 'pusher' vessel series, known as the Electric Eel, at the WorkBoat trade show in New Orleans.The vessels are the latest editions to the first series of battery powered 'pushers' ever designed. Known as EE20 and EE26 the latest vessels are being adapted from the original model EE27 launched by WBE in August. According to WBE, they offer different functionality including the ability to ‘pull’ as well as greater power and range capabilities.

29 Sep 2022

Rain Lifts Rhine Water Levels, Helps Cool Off Cargo Rates

© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock

Water levels on the river Rhine in Germany have risen sharply after rain this week, approaching normal levels and helping cool off cargo shipping rates, vessel brokers and commodity traders said on Thursday.Prices for cargo shipping are falling as vessels are able to load more freight, they said.Spot prices for a liquid tanker barge from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe south of Kaub were at about 55 euros a tonne on Thursday, down from about 68 euros last week and peaks of about 118 in August…

23 Sep 2022

Depleted Rhine Water Level in Germany Holds Above Crisis Lows

© EdNurg / Adobe Stock

Water depths on the river Rhine in Germany have fallen after dry weather this week but remain well above the crisis lows of this summer, vessel brokers and commodity traders said on Friday.Rain is expected in south German river catchment areas over the weekend and next week, which is expected to raise water levels again, they said.Weeks of high temperatures and scant rainfall in August had reduced the commercial artery's water levels, causing delays to shipping and pushing up freight costs. There were fears disruption could even hit overall German economic growth.

19 Sep 2022

Rhine Water Levels in Germany Approaching Normal Depths

© Margarita / Adobe Stock

Water depths on the Rhine River in Germany have risen thanks to recent rain and are approaching normal levels after falling this summer to lows that disrupted transportation, vessel brokers and commodity traders said on Monday.But, since dry weather was forecast for much of this week, levels could fall again and the picture had not yet normalized, brokers said.The Rhine is an important shipping route for such commodities as grains, minerals, coal and oil products, including heating oil.Weeks of high temperatures and scant rainfall in August lowered water levels in the river…