Securing transport capacities / One step towards own fleet Haeger & Schmidt Logistics (HSL) is further expanding its intermodal fleet. Having chartered three inland container vessels on a long-term basis from Dutch shipping company Delfia Inland Shipping at the beginning of the year, the logistics service provider is now investing in its own push barge combination for the first time. In the future, this will be deployed under the name THEMHOF/THEMHOF II in the Middle and Upper Rhine service of the intermodal network.
“With this decision, we are consciously taking a further step towards our own fleet,” explains Heiko Brückner. The HSL CEO knows the push barge combination well. The modern ship and its lighter have already operated under contract for years for HSL in the Upper Rhine traffic under the name “NORMA/NORMA II”. In total, the push barge combination has a length of 179 m and a capacity of 336 TEU.
With the purchase of the ship, the future of the push barge combination is secured for HSL in the long term. “Particularly in times of lack of shipping space and volatile markets, we are making ourselves a bit more independent of the market by building up our own capacity,” clarifies Brückner, sending a clear signal to the shipping community. “We want to provide our customers with secured and permanent transport capacities, especially in view of the volatile conditions, and thus make a contribution to supply chain stability.”
Currently, the THEMHOF is being equipped with the artificial intelligence of our partner Shipping Technology. “In addition to the smart use of ship data and the optimization of routes, we are laying the foundation here for the future semi-autonomous operating of inland vessels,” Brückner classifies.
Already since 2016, the push barge combination has had the remote monitoring system “CTAS Reefer” on board, which was specially developed for reefer containers. The solution, which has been successfully deployed in large container terminals worldwide, is used for fully automatic real-time monitoring of reefer containers, regardless of type and manufacturer.
Technical data
The motor vessel THEMHOF
Tonnage 3,247.215 m³
Dimensions: length 106.85 m x width 11.45 m x draft 3.60 m
Capacity: 192 TEU
The lighter THEMHOF II
Tonnage 2,256.199 m³
Dimensions: length 72.50 m x width 11.45 m x draft 3.60 m
Capacity: 144 TEU