Interview: Dr. Dirk Jürgens, Heads of R&D, Voith Turbo Marine
Dr. Dirk Jürgens heads R&D at Voith Turbo Marine, a part of the family owned Voith conglomerate which employs more than 19,000 people in 60 countries. Voith Rudderpropellers were chosen as the propulsion system for the three new Staten Island Ferry vessels, and Dr. Jürgens discusses the evolution of the system.The ‘Voith’ name is a well-known one in the maritime industry, but to start please provide an overview of the product and service you offer to the maritime industry.The…
MN100: Voith Turbo
Voith Turbo specializes in the design, manufacture and servicing of high performance driveline equipment. From drive components to electronic drive systems, technology from Voith Turbo impacts a wide variety of markets, including ship technology. Voith Turbo is a member of the Voith group of companies, a nearly 150-year-old German business that is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. The firm has annual sales $5,000,000,000 and has 20,000 employees. The Voith Water Tractor is the perfect vessel application when compact design…
Voith Linear Jet Offers Fuel Savings
Crew transfer vessel operators using the new Voith Linear Jet (VLJ) marine propulsion system can save over £75,000 in fuel costs in a season, the manufacturer claims. The cost saving, around 20 percent, is a key figure from the collection of extensive data from four months’ operation in a range of sea conditions, working at different speeds and with different loadings. The Voith Linear Jet, unveiled last year as a “world first” in marine propulsion technology, combines elements of two existing technologies: conventional screw propellers and water jets.
Trearddur Bay Completes Sea Trials
BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced that windfarm support vessel Trearddur Bay, its latest design for Turbine Transfers, has successfully completed sea trials in the Solent, achieving 31 knots with 8 metric tons DWT. With sea trials completed Trearddur Bay has immediately started work for Dong Energy. Built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) on the Isle of Wight, Trearddur Bay was launched in December 2014. The vessel is 21m long with a beam of 7.0m and utilises BMT’s well proven catamaran hull form.
New Standard in Propulsion Efficiency and Onboard Comfort
According to the manufacturer, the propulsion system has performed convincingly all along the line and surpassed the expectations of her owner, the Welsh company Turbine Transfers Ltd, a subsidiary of Holyhead Towing Company. The VLJs are the main propulsion system of the DNV Classed 21m offshore service catamaran, which was designed for Turbine Transfers by BMT Nigel Gee and built by AMC. The Crew Transport Vessel will take service technicians to offshore wind farms at sites all around Europe, initially at the Westernmost Rough site off the Humber for Dong Energy.
Voith to Exhibit High Efficiency and DP Systems at SMM
At this year’s SMM in Hamburg, Voith will showcase propulsion systems and vessel concepts focusing on high efficiency and dynamic positioning even under challenging conditions. In hall A4, booth 203, a Voith Schneider Propeller as well as the Voith Inline Thruster 850, which can also be used as a bow thruster, will be on display. The Voith Linear Jet, an electric control stand, and various ship models with Voith propulsion systems round off the trade stand presentation. Offshore exploration and energy generation are gaining in importance worldwide.
Voith Announces First Linear Jet Order
A new propulsor for 20 to 40 knots with the simplicity and efficiency of a propeller. Voith has announced the first Voith Linear Jet order with Turbine Transfers UK for a 19 meter BMT Nigel Gee designed Wind Support Vessel. The Voith Linear Jet will provide for this application a substantial higher bollard pull without a requirement for increased installed power. This higher bollard pull will allow Turbine Transfers the safe transfer of personnel up to higher seastates. Turbine Transfers - a wholly owned subsidiary of Holyhead Towing Company - currently operates a fleet of over 20 fast catamarans that transport personnel and equipment to and from offshore wind turbines. Its long term customers include Siemens, RWE npower, Van Oord, Dong Energy, EnBW and Royal Boskalis Westminster.
New Turnbine Transfer WSV Design from BMT Nigel Gee
BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced further collaboration with Turbine Transfers, one provider of Windfarm Support Vessels (WSVs), on its latest development - the design of a 19m WSV utilising the Voith Linear Jet. The Voith Linear Jet (VLJ) is an innovative propulsor unit developed by Voith that provides considerable advantages to the operator over both conventional propellers and waterjets. Voith has undertaken extensive numerical modelling and model testing of the propulsor but this will be the first application in a vessel.
