Bolstering German-owned chemical tanker capacity, Hamburg-based John T.Essberger has invested in a series of 7,135dwt parcel carriers for the European short-sea trade.

First-of-class Liselotte Essberger made her north European service debut in December, and the fourth and last vessel in the contract with China Merchants Jinling (Yangzhou) Dingheng shipyard is approaching completion. Commercial operation of the new generation has been assigned to E&S Tankers, the joint venture forged in 2021 between Essberger Tankers and Stolt Tankers.

The 120m design features an all-stainless steel, highly compartmentalised cargo section and integrated HyProp ECO propulsion solution built around an LNG dual-fuel, medium-speed main engine and shaft generator-cum-electric motor.