The Hamburg-based tanker shipping company Essberger is christening its fourth newbuilding in a few days’ time. The name could not be more traditional: “John T. Essberger”.
The naming ceremony will take place at the Cruise Centre Baakenhöft in Hamburg’s HafenCity on 6 September, the last day of the world’s leading trade fair SMM. The godmother will be Patricia von Rantzau (née Tamm), wife of Eberhart von Rantzau, one of the two managing directors and partners of the shipping company.
It is the second ship in a series of four 7,135 dwt chemical tankers built in China, which are primarily deployed in European coastal waters between northern Scandinavia and the eastern Mediterranean. However, the official naming of the other three newbuildings has already taken place.
Commemoration of company founder John T. Essberger
The founder of the shipping company, John T. Essberger, whose name the tanker will bear in future, will be honoured. Just a few weeks ago, the company celebrated 100 years of existence. On that occasion, the “Eberhart Essberger” and “Heinrich Essberger” were ceremoniously christened. The “Liselotte Essberger” kicked things off last year.
The new special ships each have 16 stainless steel tanks, are certified with the highest ice class 1A and can be operated with both marine gas oil (MGO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) thanks to their dual-fuel engines. The entire newbuild project was supported with federal funds via the National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW).
The John T. Essberger shipping company currently has a fleet of 35 chemical tankers, which are deployed from Hamburg as part of the “E & S Tankers” joint service with the Norwegian shipping company Stolt-Nielsen.
John T. Essberger (1887-1959) was one of the pioneers of tanker shipping and became one of the largest contractors in the German shipyard industry in the post-war years. After his death, his daughter Liselotte von Rantzau-Essberger (1918 – 1993) took over the management of the company. The shipowner primarily expanded the German Africa Lines, which belonged to the family business. Today, the group of companies is managed by the third generation by her sons Eberhart and Heinrich von Rantzau.
Specifications
- Shipyard: Jingling Shipyard Yangzhou Dingheng
- Length: 115 m
- Width: 18 m
- Draught: 6.5 m
- Engine: MAN 6L35/44DF
- Power: 3180 kW/4,325 hp
- Speed: Max 15 knots
- Crew: 15 men
