Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.
(Image: Technolog)
Stolt Tankers said it has been commissioned by chemicals company BASF to help design and build a unique new tanker capable of operating when extremely low water levels hamper river shipping on the Rhine.
The Rhine, which starts in Switzerland and flows through Germany and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea, is a key waterway for transportation in Europe. During dry weather, barges are often unable to fully load, increasing transport costs and delaying products.
Stolt Tankers and BASF set out to develop a new ship that could provide high load-bearing capacity coupled with a shallow draught, ensuring safe operations and full maneuverability at all times, even in extremely low water. The new barge will be able to pass the critical point in the Rhine near Kaub, carrying 650 tonnes of cargo even at a water depth of 1.60 meters, which is more than any other tanker available today, Stolt Tankers said. At average water de