The concept, basic idea and engineering for this design were developed by the HGK Shipping Design Center team in close coordination with the transport management experts at HGK Gas Shipping GmbH in Hamburg. Construction of the 110-metre-long and 12.5-metre-wide hull began in mid-2020 and the "Gas 94" is scheduled to enter service in September 2021. The newbuild, which is unique in the gas tanker shipping industry, will be deployed as part of a long-term contract with a major customer from the chemical industry along the Rhine.

In safe waters despite low water levels

"With the 'Gas 94', we are meeting the challenges of advancing climate change in two ways," says Anke Bestmann, Managing Director of HGK Gas Shipping GmbH. "We minimize the_{carbon footprint} of transport and, unlike conventional ships, we can also guarantee a basic supply of goods to the consignee even at extremely low tide - an outstanding unique selling point in our industry."

As extreme low water situations have become more frequent on the Rhine in recent years, HGK Shipping has opted for an extremely draught-optimized design for the "Gas 94", thereby meeting the customer's special requirements for the ship. This means that the "Gas 94" can pass the Rhine even at a critical level of 25 cm at Kaub. This is made possible by the optimized buoyancy properties of the ship's hull and the sophisticated planning for the arrangement of components such as cargo containers and drive technology. 30 percent less_{CO2 emissions}

Steffen Bauer, CEO of HGK Shipping, is certain: "This ship is a significant milestone in terms of innovation and sustainability in inland shipping." The pioneering hybrid drive also contributes to this. The main drive train of the "Gas 94" consists of three electric motors, each with an output of 405 kW, which each supply a rudder propeller with electrical energy for propulsion and maneuvering. The electric motors are powered by state-of-the-art diesel generator sets with exhaust gas aftertreatment systems. HGK Shipping's new gas tanker thus meets the Stage V emission standard and reduces_{CO2 emissions} by up to 30 percent thanks to the hybrid concept. Other pollutants are also significantly minimized. For example, NOx emissions are at least 70 percent lower than with conventional drives according to the CCR2 standard. Thanks to a sophisticated power management system, it will even be possible to drive shorter distances purely electrically.