New tanker twins are European-built

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

31 Oct 2011

Two identical inland gas tanker ships have joined the fleet of German shipping company Lehnkering Reederei in Duisburg following construction which has

involved shipyards in both Romania and Holland.
Tom Todd writes: Named in Duisburg were the brand new, just delivered, 95m long and 11.45m wide LRG Gas 89 and her identical sister LRG Gas 88. The latter has actually been in service since August. Superstructures were built at Holland’s TeamCo Shipyard, where the ships were also fitted out and completed. The hulls were built by Romania’s Orsova Shipyard.
The double-hulled tankers are powered by two Mitsubishi 634 kW Type S12A2-C2 MPTK main engines which propel the ships at 20km/h with low fuel consumption driving two propellers. They also each have a bow thruster.
Each has four separated and pressurised tanks, 33.6m long, of 584m3 capacity and built by Germany’s Gronemeyer and Banck.
Lehnkering said the ships were suitable for the transport of the complete range of gaseous products transported by the company. That includes pressurised liquefied gases such as butadiene, butane, propane and propylene as well as ammonia and propylene oxide. Because the tanks are larger than normally permitted in a double hull vessel, the hulls boast increased impact protection in the shape of special sheaths.
The newbuilds are designed for operation on canals and secondary waterways and meet all the requirements of regulations governing the shipment of hazardous goods on the Rhine, Lehnkering said.
They are part of what the company describes as “a continuous fleet rejuvenation programme”. Robert Baack, COO of Lehnkering Shipping Logistics & Services, explained that: “The gas shipping market, particularly along the Rhine where Lehnkering is one of the market leaders, is growing constantly. The need for the latest (types of) vessels will therefore continue to grow”, he added.
Source: Port Strategy