At the Munich International Trade Fair for Transport and Logistics, the Rhenus Group (8,6 billion euros in sales, 39.000 employees working at 1.120 sites) presented its three low-emission river vessels.

They will be powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cells, latest-generation Type VI engines and scalable and sustainable lithium-ion electric batteries.

Two pusher-barge river systems, each consisting of a motorized pusher and three barges, are currently under construction. The Rhenus Mannheim I+II and the Rhenus Ludwigshafen, from the outset, have a hydrogen-powered fuel cell.

The third is currently only planned. Called Rhenus Wörth I+II, it will be "hydrogen-ready", with its engines being able to be modified at any time to run on hydrogen. This means that the emission limits of the type VI engines, which have been installed, are much lower than those of the type V technology that is normally used for inland navigation.

The new river convoys have been adapted to strong currents, such as those on the Rhine. "Our new river vessels, which are equipped with a diesel-electric drive system, will consume 30% less fuel than vessels with a conventional drive system," explains Dirk Gemmer, Managing Director of Rhenus Transport. The reduction in fuel consumption will even be as high as 84% ​​when using the fuel cell.

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