HGK to Develop Innovative New Liquefied Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide Carrier

One of Europe’s biggest names in inland shipping, HGK Shipping, has revealed plans to develop a novel liquefied ammonia and carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier. On completion, the vessel will be the first with the ability to transport gases both in cold liquefied and pressure liquefied form. 

At present, ammonia can only be shipped on board inland vessels if it has been liquefied under pressure. 

HGK Shipping’s 135 m long and 17.5 m wide vessel, which will be diesel-electric powered and ammonia-ready, will be able to carry ammonia at temperatures as low as -33ºC. By transporting ammonia in cold liquefied form the vessel will also be able to accommodate significantly larger volumes than current gas tankers. 

The vessel design will also eliminate the need for elaborate handling processes at ports. Furthermore, the vessel will also be able to transport quantities of CO2, for example removing sequestered CO2 from industrial production facilities. 

Commenting on the vessel’s design, Tim Gödde, business unit director of Ship Management at HGK Shipping, said:

“The innovative tank and loading system for this special type of vessel is the result of intense development work in cooperation with international partners in the world of marine shipping and at our own design centre. The technical innovations, which we've already used for previous new vessels, such as a diesel-electric drive concept and the shallow-water design, will also be integrated in this new type of model”.

HGK Shipping expects the new vessel design to play an integral role in the rise of low-carbon alternative fuels. As the company’s CEO, Steffen Bauer explained, pipelines alone are not expected to be sufficient for the transport of the anticipated volumes of alt fuels:

“Thanks to this innovative type of vessel, we’re already paving the way to meet the logistical requirements for sustainable inland waterway shipping. It won’t be possible to simply transport all the predicted volumes of hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia, but also liquefied carbon dioxide, along pipelines. That’s why we’re offering the market efficient alternatives using inland waterway shipping as the mode of transport”.

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