On September 24, Rhenus and Contargo celebrated the christening of the innovative hybrid coupled convoy Mannheim I+II in Duisburg together with numerous guests. On this occasion, they presented the first vessel of a new series featuring pioneering propulsion technology for the Rhine.
The christening was carried out in the traditional way by godmother Irmgard Rethmann, representing the owning family, and the newbuild was blessed by ship’s chaplain Frank Wessel.
The 193-meter-long coupled convoy Mannheim I+II combines five powerful Euro-6 diesel engines – operated with the synthetic fuel HVO100 – with a self-charging battery system of 840 kWh capacity and, in the future, two hydrogen fuel cells. The flexibly combinable and interchangeable drive systems supply two synchronous electric motors with 960 kW each, directly connected to the propeller shaft, enabling low-noise operation. In addition, operation with battery, diesel, and hydrogen can achieve a reduction of CO₂ and NOx emissions by up to 72 percent. With the use of HVO100, the reduction increases to 90 percent.
The innovative design and propulsion technology with a flex-tunnel propeller allow navigation even at low water levels down to a draft of 1.20 meters and are specifically tailored for use along the Rhine corridor between the ARA ports and Wörth am Oberrhein. The flex-tunnel technology also enables more precise maneuvering and a flatter positioning of the propeller in the fairway. As part of the christening ceremony, remote-control technology was also presented, which is set to be used in the new vessel series in the future.