Novel German tanker series takes off

Management official Julia Dettmer told The Motorship that owners Dettmer Reederei had invested €6 million in the new Type C tankship, being officially named and going into service in May. She is the prototype for Dettmer tankers of the future.

“Because of the high technology demands we have created one of the most modern ships on Germany’s waterways”, said Ms Dettmer. The 86m long, 11.45m wide ship, double-hulled both in her tank, bow rudder and also engine room areas, was conceived at the Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (DST) in Duisburg. She was “very unusual, especially below the surface”, Ms Dettmer said.

Especially designed for shallow water operation, her stern is fitted with underwater fins like a motorboat to feed water to the vessel’s twin Volvo Penta propellers and Van der Velden rudder plant while flaps prevent turbulence. Julia Dettmer said the newbuild’s two MTU 8V 4000 M 53 R main engines of 745kW and Reintjes WAF 562 gearing provide constant manoeuvrability. The ship also has a 515kW bow thruster.

The GL-classed Dettmer Tank 140 is of 1,800dwt and carries 50% more cargo than any previous Dettmer ship – in eight tanks of total 2400m³ – and is the biggest ship Dettmer’s tanker depot in Magdeburg can handle. .

Ms Dettmer also referred to the newbuild’s environmental advantages with engines and auxiliaries producing reduced particle emissions and fuel consumption down 15%. The ship can transport chemicals and oil products at the same time.

Praising builder Hitzler Werft on the Elbe in Lauenburg she said “if our expectations are realised we will order three or four more ships of this type”. Maintenance and service were also guaranteed by the yard, which has built three tankers for Dettmer since 2008.

Yard owner Franz C Hitzler was quoted saying “we are of course happy about such newbuilding projects, but we are really a classic repair yard”.