A Dutch, privately owned sea-river shipping company rooted in generations of inland shipping — now developing the next generation of zero-emission sea-river vessels.
Tharsis Ship Management is a Dutch, privately owned sea-river shipping company — though the current entity was founded in 1996, our owners come from Dutch inland shipping families, and their sea-river roots reach back to the 1960s and the legendary Hamburg- and Denmark traders.
For almost five decades, across generations, we have specialised in the unique craft of sea-river shipping — moving cargo directly from coastal ports deep into Europe's inland waterways, skipping costly transshipment.
Alongside sea-river shipping, innovative technology is our second specialism. We were the first in our segment to sail with diesel-electric propulsion — saving around 25% in daily practice — launching customer for a new type of air lubrication under the hull, and a participant in a pilot project for wind-assisted ship propulsion.
Since the sale of MV Tharsis in 2022 we operate no vessels of our own. Our full focus is on the next chapter: developing new sea-river vessels for our own account, starting with the eSeaRiverBarge — a new generation of zero-emission sea-river container vessels.
From generations of inland shipping families and the adventurous Hamburg- and Denmark traders of the 1960s and 1970s to pioneering zero-emission vessels — 47 years of quiet maritime evolution across generations of sea-river entrepreneurs.
Long before the first sea voyages, the owners' families made their living on Dutch rivers and canals as skippers, barge owners and tug operators. That inland shipping background still shapes how we work today.
A small group of adventurous Dutch barge owners takes their inland vessels to sea — to Hamburg, through the Kiel Canal and on to Denmark and the Baltic. What starts unofficially later becomes an official Dutch class of ship: reinforced inland vessels, with only minimal modifications for coastal service.
400 dwt Denmark trader, with which company co-founders Gerrit and Gea (Gesina) Bosma-De Vries entered the river-sea niche — the basis for the company we are today.
843 dwt river-sea Denmark trader of the Dortmunder type, built as the inland vessel Banjaard and converted in 1972. Named after co-founder Gea (Gesina) Bosma-De Vries, she made many trips between the inland waterways and the Baltic Sea. Today a classic lady, still sailing as Jeanny under the Finnish flag.
1,450 dwt — the first true sea-river vessel. Acquired in partnership with R. Arends. After her first voyage to Goole, thousands more would follow with the later Tharsis-named vessels.
The current company is founded for its first newbuild, consolidating decades of experience in the specialised sea-river niche.
The first newbuild, fully Dutch built at Shipyard De Kaap in Meppel and delivered in 1997 — internally known as Tharsis 1. The lowest and largest coaster of her kind: an air draft of only 4.5 m at 2.8 m draught allowed her to cross the whole of Europe.
A second vessel is acquired and sails under the Tharsis name — internally known as Tharsis 2.
Ice-class reinforced sea-river vessel of 4,000 dwt for trade to the Barents Sea. The first of a series developed by Wijnne Barends and affiliated shipowners, built in China partly under our supervision. The Banier sailed for a sister company of Tharsis.
Once again, an order for a newbuild is placed with Shipyard De Kaap in Meppel: the first diesel-electric coaster — and the last seagoing ship ever built in the province of Drenthe.
A decade of sea-river voyages between the Humber and the Rhine, with around 25% energy saving in daily practice thanks to her diesel-electric propulsion. Sold in 2022 — rounding off more than 2,000 voyages between the Humber and the Rhine with the Tharsis vessels.
A new generation of zero-emission sea-river container vessels, developed by Tharsis for its own account. Construction is planned to start in 2027, with the first vessel in service planned for 2029 — the next chapter of our story.
“The Lord is my Banner”Jehovah NissiExodus 17:15
Alongside sea-river shipping, innovation has always been part of how we work. We bring new technology on board early and prove it in daily service — lessons that now feed directly into the eSeaRiverBarge.
The first sea-river ship in her segment with diesel-electric propulsion. A relatively low installed propulsion power was supplied by three efficient, truck-sized generator sets, each running at its optimal load. Optimised routeing and just-in-time arrival through slow steaming made full use of this set-up in daily service.
Launching customer for a new type of air lubrication under the hull, installed in 2020, reducing frictional resistance.
Participant in the WASP pilot project: two eConowind TwinFoil wing sails were installed in 2021.
A new generation of zero-emission sea-river container vessels — designed to operate seamlessly between coastal seas and Europe's inland waterways, eliminating the need for transshipment while drastically reducing the carbon footprint of short-sea logistics.
Building on the proven sea-river concept pioneered by the MV Tharsis, the eSeaRiverBarge programme reimagines every aspect of the vessel: propulsion, energy management, cargo flexibility, and port interface — all engineered for a post-fossil maritime future. The project is supported by the EU Innovation Fund.
Electric propulsion and energy-reducing technologies — with zero-emission energy on board, the vessel sails without emissions.
Designed from the keel up around the container: a flexible hold for a wide range of container sizes and types, and swappable energy containers for power — bringing sea-river flexibility to a market traditionally served only by inland barges or coastal feeder vessels.
Low air draft and shallow sailing draft — combining coastal seaworthiness with the ability to sail deep into the Rhine corridor, reaching inland ports and terminals that conventional short-sea feeders cannot.
Two first-of-a-kind vessels will open a direct sea-river container service between the Rhine valley and the United Kingdom — bypassing transshipment in congested seaports.
Today, our team focuses on developing new ships for our own account — turning decades of hands-on experience at sea and on the rivers into the next generation of sea-river vessels.
From concept and design to shipyard contracting — new sea-river vessels developed in-house, for our own account.
Almost five decades of operating experience on coastal routes and inland waterways, and a track record as early adopter: diesel-electric propulsion and innovative energy-saving solutions — built into every design decision.
Selectively, we share our experience with partners, shippers and technology suppliers — from route feasibility and sea-river regulations to bringing new technology into daily practice on board.
A service we offer to other shipowners: experienced pilots for seagoing vessels on the Rhine, the Albert Canal and other European inland waterways — from the coast to inland ports.
Latest updates on the eSeaRiverBarge programme and the Tharsis Ship Management journey.
After eight years of pre-development, Tharsis Ship Management signs the grant agreement with the EU Innovation Fund for the eSeaRiverBarge — an important next step towards two first-of-a-kind sea-river container vessels, developed for our own account.
Thirty years after the company was founded in 1996, Tharsis Ship Management celebrates three decades of sea-river shipping — and looks ahead to its next chapter, the eSeaRiverBarge.
After exactly ten years of service, MV Tharsis is sold — rounding off more than 2,000 voyages between the Humber and the Rhine with the Tharsis vessels.
Tharsis contracted eConowind and NG Shipyard for two folding TwinFoil wing sails on MV Tharsis, as part of WASP (Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion), an Interreg North Sea Region project.
Together with ENGIE, BCTN, eL-Tec and the municipality of Nijmegen, Tharsis joins the Energy Transhipment Hub: a charging point for battery containers for electric inland vessels. Tharsis leads the ship-side maritime development and logistics.
In close cooperation with Conoship International, and supported by a Maritime Innovation Impulse Project (MIIP) grant via Nederland Maritiem Land, Tharsis developed a 300 TEU open-top concept with electric propulsion powered by energy containers — the starting point of the eSeaRiverBarge.
Tharsis 3 joined CLINSH (Clean Inland Shipping), an EU LIFE project testing emission-reducing technologies on 43 vessels in daily service to improve air quality in cities along ports and inland waterways. She was selected partly for her sailing profile through major cities such as Rotterdam, Nijmegen and Duisburg — exactly where these emissions matter most. Her diesel-electric propulsion was monitored for real-life emissions and fuel consumption. clinsh.eu ↗