Christian Lorenz
Press Officer
Telephone 0221 / 390 11 90
E-mail lorenzc(at)hgk.de
Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG
Press Office
Am Niehler Hafen 2
50735 Cologne
The "Blue Marlin" sets standards for sustainable propulsion technologies in inland navigation
Duisburg / Hamburg. This addition to the fleet of HGK Shipping, Europe's largest inland shipping company, is setting new standards: on 3 July, the "Blue Marlin", a dry cargo ship for Salzgitter AG, was christened in Hamburg and is groundbreaking in several respects. The newbuild combines a powerful diesel-electric "Future Fuel Ready" propulsion concept with low-water optimisation and SEAFAR technology for remote-controlled navigation. In addition, a solar module system generates up to 37,500 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which can also be used to power the ship.
The "Blue Marlin" is the latest project in the established cooperation between HGK Shipping and Salzgitter Flachstahl in inland shipping. The new dry cargo ship will mainly transport steel and bulk goods in the north-west German canal network, thus making Salzgitter AG's logistics even more sustainable. After successfully completing trial runs, the ship was christened yesterday by Julia Siemens-Pecher, Head of Logistics Management at Peiner Träger GmbH, an operationally independent subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, during a festive ceremony.
"The close partnership with Salzgitter AG enables us to realise future-oriented projects in a targeted manner. Together, we are putting innovative ideas into practice: from emission-free solar technology and remote-controlled navigation of the ships to resource-saving propulsion systems in our fleet. The 'Blue Marlin' is a powerful symbol of what industry and logistics can achieve together," explains Florian Bleikamp, Managing Director of HGK Dry Shipping.
"The 'Blue Marlin' is a powerful symbol of what industry and logistics can achieve together"
Fabian Gerdes, Head of Customer Logistics at Salzgitter Flachstahl, is delighted: "With this innovative ship, we are continuing our endeavours to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve the efficiency and resilience of our supply chains. In doing so, we are increasingly focussing on inland shipping, which is particularly environmentally friendly in the transport mode mix. In this respect, the 'Blue Marlin' plays a key role in the climate-friendly transport of our steel products and bulk goods. It contributes to a significant improvement in our carbon footprint in logistics and therefore fits in perfectly with the path we have taken towards greater sustainability."
With its canal-optimised dimensions of 86 metres in length, 9.50 metres in width and a navigable draught of just 1.10 metres, the "Blue Marlin" is ideally suited to low-water situations on Central European waterways. The efficient propulsion concept with two Veth rudder propellers and an additional bow thruster also enables it to be coupled with a pushed barge, which means that loads of up to 3,110 tonnes can be transported in the best possible way.
Following the successful test runs with the SEAFAR technology, the Directorate-General for Waterways (GDWS) issued a licence for remote-controlled navigation on the section between Salzgitter and Friedrichsfeld. The Wattlab solar technology also supports the energy supply on board: the electricity generated enables temporary emission-free ship operation by driving the rudder propellers and reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 36,000 kilograms per year. For the first time, the solar energy generated can be transferred directly to the drive train. In recognition of its sustainable design, the "Blue Marlin" has already been honoured with the Green Award "Gold".
The ship was designed and developed in close co-operation between HGK Shipping and Salzgitter AG. The so-called hull was built at the Romanian Orsova shipyard, while the technical outfitting was completed in proven quality by De Gerlien van Tiem B.V. in Druten, the Netherlands.
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