Electrical Network News

A first-of-its-kind hybrid-electric tanker is due to arrive to the Port of Gothenburg, where it will emit no greenhouse gases or carbon particulates during port operations.Swedish tanker operator Terntank's Tern Island is equipped with new electric power supply hybrid system, including a battery pack, on-shore power supply and a DC-Link system which is reported to be able to reduce its auxiliary energy consumption during port operations by -99%. The shore power connection has been developed together with the Port of Gothenburg…

Finnish energy efficiency solution provider WE Tech Solutions said it has received an order to complete its earlier scope of supply with energy storage systems (ESS) integrated in the package delivered earlier this year, including propulsion drives, permanent magnet shaft generator, shore connection switchgear, bow thruster motor and DC link for two new 22,000 DWT chemical and oil tankers built by Wuhu Shipyard Co. Ltd for the Swedish shipowner Rederi AB Donsötank.The ESS can…

WE Tech Solutions, a leading energy efficiency solution provider, has received an order to supply an integrated package, including Propulsion Drives, Permanent Magnet Shaft Generator, Shore Connection Switchgear, Bow Thruster Motor and DC Link to two new 22000 DWT tankers for chemical and oil products with an option for another two. The tankers are built by Wuhu Shipyard Co. Ltd for the Swedish ship owner Rederi AB Donsötank. WE Tech’s equipment delivery to Wuhu Shipyard will…

The demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia are plain sailing for MS Viikki, the world’s first LNG-fueled bulk carrier. The solution, built around WE Tech’s variable frequency drive technology WE Drive and The Switch direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, helps the vessel achieve Ice Class 1A propulsion, while still slashing fuel consumption, costs and emissions. It is a game-changer for ice-class operations.Demanding high standardsESL Shipping is…

The world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fueled handysize bulk carrier, M/V Haaga, was delivered from Chinese shipbuilder from Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing to Finnish shipowner ESL Shipping, in August.The first-of-its-kind vessel features innovative solutions from Finnish hybrid solutions company WE Tech, including Economical Operations and Boost Mode with the direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, that help minimize energy consumption and emissions to reduce the ship's environmental footprint.The Economical Operations…

Cress Systems helps container terminals reduce fuel bills, emissions and power peaks with ProwESS energy storage for rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). New technology allows container ports and terminals to capture, store and reuse energy from container yard handling equipment to reduce fuel cost and emissions and better manage peak electricity demands. Following a successful proof of concept trial at the UK Port of Felixstowe, Cress Systems is pleased to announce the commercial release of its ProwESS energy capture, storage and reuse system for container terminal yard handling equipment. The first version of the system has been designed for rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), the global workhorse of yard operations, with a second version under development for straddle carriers.

WE Tech Solutions said it has received an order to deliver its permanent magnet shaft generator solution to two new 18,600 dwt chemical tankers with an option for another two. The tankers are built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Chengxi Shipyard for the Swedish ship owner Ektank AB. WE Tech’s equipment delivery to Hudong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. will commence in October 2017. WE Tech’s solution is based on variable frequency drive technology (WE Drive) and the direct drive Permanent Magnet Shaft Generator. The solution allows the main engine to run at variable speed while the electrical network is generated by the Shaft Generator. Therefore, there is no need to run the auxiliary engines or generators when sailing.

Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. The Switch has been engaged in the maritime industry for only three and a half years, but it already has approximately 20 ships in its reference list, including the first, the 15,000 dwt M/T Ternsund  (featured on this month’s cover) owned by Terntank, which is a fourth generation company that in 1958 was a one ship company, and today is an operator of ten modern chemical/product tankers in the range from 8,000 to 15,000 dwt.

WE Tech Solutions (WE Tech), an energy efficiency solutions provider in the marine industry, and The Switch, a technology specialist of permanent magnet machines for advanced marine drive trains, have been chosen to deliver their permanent magnet shaft generator solution to Australian Toll Shipping for a series of two 12,000 dwt RORO vessels. The Sinotrans & CSC affiliated Jinling Shipyard in China will build the ships. Delivery of advanced equipment solution from WE Tech and The Switch will commence in August 2017.

WE Tech said it has received an order to deliver its permanent magnet shaft generator solutions to a series of four fuel efficient ROPAX ferries, with an option for another four. The vessels are to be built for the Swedish shipping company Stena RoRo at AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co., Ltd. in China. The four initial vessels will be operated by Stena Line within its route network in Northern Europe. “WE have developed the most energy efficient shaft generator solution to reduce the fuel consumption, operational costs and environmental footprint.

Energy efficiency solution provider WE Tech Solutions said it has received an order to deliver its direct-drive permanent magnet (PM) shaft generator solution to a series of two 17,500 DWT IMO class II chemical tankers, with an option for two more. The Switch, a technology specialist of megawatt-class PM machines for advanced marine drive trains, will deliver the PM shaft generators to be used in the solutions provided by WE Tech. The tankers will be built by the Chinese shipyard Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for Bergen-based Norwegian shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS.

The two main construction projects in the Marseille harbor area of leading French port Marseille Fos are nearing completion following a decisive stage in works costing almost €64 million ($70.6 mln) that will cater for mega-ships by enlarging the Passe Nord port entrance and recommissioning the giant No.10 drydock. The drydock has been flooded for the first time since work started in January 2014 to enable flotation of a new 9,100 tonne dock gate and three 4,500 tonne caissons – under construction there since March - that will form the remodelled ends of sea walls guarding the harbor entrance.

On the occasion of Electric & Hybrid Marine World Expo in Amsterdam, Barillec will focus on its VarShaft system, whose first prototype is now available in its showroom in Concarneau. VarShaft has been developed to improve energy efficiency of fishing boats and other service vessels. According to Barillec, many French shipowners already showed interest into this concept that allows them to improve the energy efficiency by reducing the fuel consumption up to 15 percent. Barillec marine proposes to ship-owners…

WE Tech Solutions (WE Tech), an energy efficiency solutions provider in the marine industry, has received an order to deliver its direct-drive permanent magnet shaft generator solution to two new 25,600 dwt dual-fueled handysize bulk carriers, with an option for two more. The Switch, a technology specialist of megawatt-class permanent magnet (PM) machines for advanced marine drive trains, will deliver the PM shaft generators to be used in the solutions provided by WE Tech. The vessels are owned by the Finnish ship owner ESL Shipping Ltd.…

The Switch, a specialist of megawatt-class permanent magnet (PM) machines for advanced marine drive trains, has been selected to deliver its PM shaft generator for an LNG carrier with a 45,000 cubic meter cargo capacity, allowing the vessel to gain greater efficiency over its entire speed range. This order is part of a complete energy efficiency system being delivered by WE Tech Solutions (WE Tech) of Finland to Saga LNG Shipping Pte. Ltd. The vessel will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. Earlier this year, The Switch received a PM shaft generator order with an option of one more from the energy-efficient solution provider WE Tech for an LNG carrier owned by Saga LNG Shipping Pte. Ltd. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in October 2016.

GE’s Marine Solutions announced it will provide a LM2500+G4 gas turbine that will power the Italian Navy’s new Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose offshore patrol ship. The PPA’s hybrid electric propulsion system also will use GE’s shock-proof MV3000 drives and a GE-designed electrical network of motors as part of the propulsion system. Avio Aero, a GE Aviation business headquartered in Italy, will have the design responsibility for the gas turbine package. The PPA ship will be built by Fincantieri at its Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano.

The Switch, a specialist of megawatt-class permanent magnet (PM) machines and frequency converter packages for advanced wind and marine drive trains, has successfully tested its PM shaft generator in a rigorous bench test in Vaasa. The first pair in an order of four PM shaft generators is part of a complete system being delivered by WE Tech Solutions of Finland to Wallenius Lines of Sweden. The PMM 1000 direct-drive marine shaft generator certified by Lloyds marks the first of its kind to take advantage of PM technology, allowing ships to gain greater efficiency over the entire speed range. During the end of November in Vaasa, Finland, the first two of four PM shaft generators successfully passed the rigorous back-to-back bench test.

The Switch, a supplier of megawatt-class permanent magnet generators, motors and frequency converters, received an order from WE Tech Solutions Oy of Vaasa, Finland for four permanent magnet (PM) shaft generators. Coupled together with WE Tech’s WE Drive, these PM shaft generators represent game-changing technology for merchant ships to allow them to significantly cut back on operating costs when powering their onboard electric networks. The deliveries will start later this year.

The Switch, a leading supplier of megawatt-class permanent magnet (PM) generators, motors and frequency converters, say they have signed an agreement for the delivery of four direct-drive 1.5 MW PM shaft generators to WE Tech Solutions Oy of Vaasa, Finland, who will couple them their WE Drive system for marine use. According to the manufacturers, the order strengthens the position of The Switch as it uses its proven track record of applying PM generator technology successfully in the wind power industry now to a range of marine applications.

Kongsberg Maritime has introduced two new Diesel Electric models for its Engine Room Simulator, K-Sim Engine (previously Neptune). The DE88 Semi-Submersible Drilling Rig model, containing eight Wärtsilä 16V26 engines and eight thrusters, is already available, while the DE66 Drill Ship model, simulating full operation of six MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators powering six thrusters, will be released in Q1 2014. Both new models are designed to support critical learning objectives for offshore engineering crew including complete system understanding under normal operation…

Veka-Group has developed  three new LNG tankers, which can also be used as bunker ships. Two tankers are destined for short sea trips and/or coastal services. The third tanker, a LNG inland waterway bunker ship, is the first of its type in the world. The tanker sails almost completely on the ‘boil off’ of the load and is 100% emission-free. After the introduction of the first bi-fuel tanker in the world, the “Pioneer Knutsen”, this is again a proof of Veka-Group’s innovative power. With the “Pioneer Knutsen”, Bijlsma Shipyard, member of the Veka-Group, was years ahead of her time.

Wärtsilä has been assigned overall responsibility for systems integration in the pioneering FellowSHIP project. Wärtsilä's specially designed equipment is being used to integrate and create synergies between marine technology and state-of-the-art fuel cell technology. The equipment has been installed onboard the platform supply vessel Viking Lady for extensive sea tests. The innovative solution is seen as being an important contributor in the development of environmentally sustainable marine propulsion systems.

Concurrent with marine industry consolidation on the ship owning, building and supply fronts, increasingly innovative vessels concepts are originating from in-house design teams sitting with the major equipment manufacturers. Single-source supplier is today’s mantra on the commercial and military fronts, with companies such as Wärtsilä leading the way. The company recently published details of an innovative new LNG carrier concept, the Wärtsilä DF-electric propulsion concept for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, bringing together two technologies: electric propulsion and dual-fuel engines. The Wärtsilä DF-electric LNG carrier concept is designed for a single-screw vessel with four cargo tanks and a capacity of about 138,000 cu.