HGK Shipping, a subsidiary of Germany's integrated logistics group HGK, has unveiled a new design for a river/sea-going gas tanker aimed at meeting evolving energy transport needs in the transition era. Under the project name "Vanguard," this vessel is Europe’s first of its kind designed to transport cold liquefied ammonia (NH3) and liquefied CO2 (LCO2). The Vanguard, measuring 125 meters long and 17.5 meters wide, is capable of operating on both rivers and coastal waters, eliminating the need for transshipment between different transport modes. This flexibility benefits hydrogen transport from regions like Spain and Portugal, as well as the movement of captured CO2 to offshore fields in the North Sea.

To enhance sustainability, the vessel features a wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) alongside a diesel-electric, future fuel-ready engine. Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK Shipping, emphasized that the Vanguard provides a much-needed solution for the increasing decarbonization of production processes, offering safe and climate-friendly transport options across Europe’s waterways.

With its ability to navigate the Rhine up to the Upper Rhine, the Vanguard offers industries concentrated along the river an efficient alternative to limited pipeline infrastructure. The vessel also supports the European Green Deal’s goal of transitioning to "green" ammonia for production processes. HGK Shipping is setting new standards in ship design for inland shipping, with plans for further "Vanguard" successors customized to client needs.

Wolfgang Nowak, Managing Director of HGK Shipping’s subsidiary Amadeus, highlighted the advantages of the Vanguard's seamless transition between coastal and inland waterways, reducing seaport stops and providing cost and time savings for customers. Complementing the previously announced "Pioneer" project, the Vanguard will support the transport of large CO2 volumes collected through carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) processes, as well as the delivery of green ammonia for energy production.

Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) is the logistics arm of the City of Cologne’s public utilities group. Initially focused solely on port operations, HGK has evolved into a comprehensive provider of integrated transport and logistics services with operations across Europe. The HGK Group is organized into five divisions: Logistics & Intermodal, Shipping, Rail Operations, Infrastructure & Maintenance, and Real Estate. It manages Germany’s largest inland waterway port network, operates one of the country’s largest private freight railway companies, and offers specialized logistics services and terminals. Through its subsidiaries and holdings, HGK also manages its own rail network and workshops for rail freight. HGK Shipping GmbH is the largest inland waterway shipping company in Europe.