10.10.2025 | Press Release

HGK Shipping christens "GAS 96", the third tanker for more resilience at low tide

Duisburg / Rotterdam. New milestone for sustainable inland shipping: With the christening of the gas tanker "GAS 96" on 9 October 2025 in Rotterdam, HGK Shipping has officially put another pioneering ship into service. For Europe's largest inland shipping company, this is the third gas tanker that combines extreme draught optimisation with a diesel-electric "future-fuel-ready" propulsion system.

As a pioneer in the industry, HGK Shipping continues to focus on innovative ship designs. The "GAS 96" is now in operation on the Rhine route between Rotterdam, Antwerp and Cologne, transporting pressurised liquefied gases for the chemicals group LyondellBasell (LYB). The basis for this is a long-term charter contract.

The "GAS 96" has four tanks with a total cargo volume of 3,256 cubic metres available for the transport. The ship was developed at HGK Shipping's innovative Design Centre and has a length of 110 metres and a width of 15 metres. With its exceptional parameters, the "GAS 96" sets new standards for the waterway system.

Thanks to the ultra-modern rudder propellers, the large tanker can manoeuvre safely even in extreme water level conditions. Even with a draught of just 1.20 metres, it can carry more than 300 tonnes to ensure security of supply even in challenging weather conditions. In optimum water conditions, the maximum tonnage per voyage is over 2,500 tonnes. After the hull was initially manufactured at Severnav in Romania, it was finally dismantled at De Gerlien van Tiem in the Netherlands.

"The 'GAS 96' is not only a tanker for the present, but also one for the future."

Anke Bestmann, Managing Director of HGK Gas Shipping GmbH

Focus on customer needs

"In our close cooperation with HGK Shipping, we realise time and again how our long-standing partner meets our needs in an ever-changing environment with convincing solutions. The 'GAS 96' is an example of this innovative and cooperative approach," said Yarelis Hernandez, LYB Vice President of Global Intermediates & Derivatives Manufacturing, on the sidelines of the naming ceremony in Rotterdam. "Conserving resources through sustainable logistics and a high degree of supply security are key objectives in supply chain management for our production and that of our joint venture partner Covestro."

Making inland navigation fit for the future

Anke Bestmann, Managing Director of HGK Gas Shipping GmbH, emphasised: "The 'GAS 96' is not only a tanker for the present, but also one for the future. Future transport goods such as ammonia and fuel systems currently under development, such as methanol, have already been taken into account in this ship design. In addition, the power management system of the newbuild reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions, as it constantly adapts the power provided to the power requirement. The gas tanker was developed according to the special requirements of LyondellBasell and Covestro. We look forward to meeting the needs of our customers with our innovative and sustainable newbuildings."

The ship was christened by Yarelis Hernandez, LYB Vice President of Global Intermediates & Derivatives Manufacturing, together with Reverend Daniel Odhiambo and HGK Shipping at a ceremony in Rotterdam.

The christening of the "GAS 96" in Rotterdam was attended by (from left): Bjorn Krijgsman, Buyer Logistics Barging EU at LyondellBasell; Reverend Daniel Odhiambo; Anke Bestmann, Director Gas Shipping & Managing Director HGK Gas Shipping GmbH; Yarelis Hernandez, LYB Vice President of Global Intermediates & Derivatives Manufacturing; Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK AG; Folkert Bloembergen, Director Global Ocean, Inland Waterways & Storage Procurement at LyondellBasell