Baco Liner is a shipping service between Europe and Africa owned by Seerederei Bacoliner GmbH of Duisburg, Germany. It uses a fleet of LASH vessels which have a very unusual design;[1] they carry both conventional shipping containers, and barges that are loaded through doors in the bow.[2][3]
The barges can load up to 800 tonnes each; 12 may be loaded per ship.[4]
This system of barges inside a larger ship allows cargo to be discharged mid-stream in African Ports, avoiding port delays.[5]
In 2007, 24 Filipino crew of a Baco Liner vessel were kidnapped by pirates in Chanomi Creek, Nigeria.[6]
The current fleet (August 2011) comprises the three barge carriers BACO-LINER 1, BACO-LINER 2 and BACO-LINER 3, all completed between 1979 and 1984 by Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH at Emden. Each vessel is approx. 205m long, 28.5m beam and operating on a loaded draught of 6.65m. Gross tonnage 22345, deadweight 21800 tonnes including 12 barges with 800 tonnes each. Container capacity is 500-650 TEU. Service speed is 15 knots and they sail under the Liberian flag, serving ports between Nouadhibou and Port Harcourt. .[7]