Diesel Electric System News

As the world looks to renewable energy sources to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, offshore wind has emerged as a promising frontier in the United States. A report by the University of California Berkeley released in August concluded that due to the nation’s long coastlines with sustained winds in many areas and falling turbine costs, offshore wind could feasibly supply between 10% and 25% of the country’s energy demand by 2050.While that may paint a rosy picture of a cleaner…

Denmark-based OSK Design has unveiled its latest design, an Arctic frigate designed for operations in the North Atlantic, High North and Greenland regions.One of the notable features of the vessel is its fully operational helicopter, a critical asset for Arctic operations, allowing for airborne scouting, transport, and search and rescue missions in the challenging Arctic environment.The Arctic frigate is classed for year-round operation in the Arctic, capable of withstanding the most challenging ice conditions while maintaining optimal performance.

Damen Shipyards Group recently signed a contract with UK Dredging for the delivery of a Shoalbuster 2711 Water Injection Dredger (WID).UK Dredging, part of Associated British Ports (ABP), operates Britain’s largest dredging fleet. Among its vessels are a number of Damen dredgers and workboats, including two Multi Cat Plough Vessels. The company’s scope is to undertake maintenance dredging in ABP’s ports. To do this, UK Dredging typically operates a number of hopper dredgers.A smaller water injection dredger will enable the company to extend the intervals in between hopper dredging operations.

Dutch shipbuilder Damen Maaskant said it has signed a contract with New Zealand based seafood company Sanford Limited for the design and build of a new scampi vessel for operations in the Southern Ocean.The vessel, based on the Damen Sea Fisher 3210 will be built to the latest standards in terms of sustainability, comfort and safety, the shipbuilder said. The unique design was created as a result of cooperation between Sanford and the management and technical teams of Damen Shipyards…

Crowley has been selected by Senesco Marine to provide design verification and production packaging for a hybrid-electric passenger vehicle ferry for Casco Bay Lines of Portland, Maine.Under the contract, Crowley will use its development experience in electric and hybrid propulsion systems to verify the contract design by Elliott Bay Design Group and develop the production package that is necessary for Senesco Marine to begin construction. The production package provides critical…

A new patrol boat just launched by Ribcraft in Dubai is powered by a unique hybrid electric system supplied by Transfluid and Elcome International.The two companies collaborated to design and install the cost-effective diesel-electric system for the nine-meter Ribcraft professional-grade rigid-hull inflatable boat. A Middle Eastern customer required a patrol RHIB intended for the surveillance of the environmentally protected areas with zero environmental footprint, while at the…

Ulstein Group unveiled a hydrogen-powered ship design that it claims is market-ready, offering zero-emission marine operations.Recently, DNV GL identified the five most promising alternative fuels for shipping, with hydrogen as the ultimate zero-emission solution. The first complete hydrogen fueled prospect has been put together by Ulstein Design & Solutions BV and Nedstack fuel cell technology BV. The ULSTEIN SX190 Zero Emission DP2 construction support vessel is Ulstein’s first hydrogen powered offshore vessel, featuring a Nedstack fuel cell power system. The DP2 vessel can cater for a large variety of offshore support operations.“The maritime industry needs to align and be ambitious in bringing green solutions forward for a sustainable future.

Based in Miramar, FL, ABB Vice President Ed Schwarz is today responsible for developing and leading the newly created new sales team for ABB in North America.He is the firm’s leading advocate for new build opportunities in US and Canada and more importantly, developing the business strategy necessary for bringing hybrid and electric solutions to North America market. A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management in 2000.

China earns cruise newbuild business, aims for ship financeWhile China has steadily built shipbuilding market share, cruise ship construction –  more specifically mastering the logistical complexities inherent in cruise ship design, outfit and construction – has proved elusive. But it appears that Chinese shipbuilders have turned the corner, with contracts signed for the first cruise newbuilds. We were in Tianjin, China, earlier this year for the 4th Annual China Maritime Finance Forum for a look behind the covers of passenger vessel in China…

Diesel electric technology, as part of a comprehensive engineering design process, should be considered by the inland towboat sector. Diesel electric propulsion is not a new concept. Like azimuthing drives, its application to the inland marine market has lagged behind other areas of the marine industry. Diesel electric has gained traction in industries where fuel economy and redundancy of propulsion systems for safety is paramount. In particular, vessels like passenger ferries and offshore supply vessels have enjoyed the benefits of the diesel electric systems.

Niels-Erik Lund began his passenger ship career in 1969 as a trainee in a Danish passenger shipping company, DFDS. In the nearly 50 years since, the passenger and cruise shipping industry has changed many times over, with consistent growth being the only similarity between then an now. Today Lund, President & CEO of Sunstone Ships, Inc., has an unfettered view of the expedition cruise sector that he helped to create. With the expedition and luxury cruise segments set for fast growth, Maritime Reporter spoke to Lund to help put the market in better perspective.

Louisiana-based Karl Senner widens its propulsion solutions toolkit with two options, both designed to provide economics, efficiencies and lower emissions. In the increasingly competitive marine propulsion markets, workboat operators now have many choices from which to select an appropriate, long term solution for their propulsion needs. Paramount in that process is the need to meet regulatory requirements without breaking the bank. In response, propulsion distributor Karl Senner LLC offers two different electrical system arrangements; both of which will allow operators to remain tier compliant without the use of after-treatment. Way back in 1967, Karl H. Senner sold the very first Reintjes Gearbox in the North America to Dickie Gonsoulin of LeBeouf Towing.

Power and automation technology group ABB will supply the entire electric system to provide power throughout the vessel and five Azipod propulsion units for the 175-meter long Chinese mega-crane vessel, Hua Tian Long. It has a gross tonnage of approximately 42,500 and is one of the largest salvage vessels in Asia. The new retractable Azipod units, installed on a vessel for the first time, will bring a range of additional benefits, including entering shallow harbors and dry-docking without need of thruster removal.

CSBC Corporation Taiwan has chosen Siemens to supply diesel-electric propulsion systems and other accessories for four 65,000-ton semi-submersible deck cargo vessels (SSDCVs). The country’s largest shipyard is building the vessels for a customer in Singapore. Compared to conventional mechanical propulsion technologies, Siemens’ diesel-electric system will reduce fuel costs by up to 15 percent, resulting from unique power management features, the manufacturer said. Likewise, associated propellers, rudders and thrusters will improve the vessel’s maneuverability when operating at low speeds. Each propulsion system includes an IDS comprising low-voltage propulsion motors and frequency converters that facilitate economic…

A pair of custom motor yachts is packed with state-of-the-art features and technologies, most notable among them: hybrid propulsion systems. The two yachts may look different, but they are in fact the same design, with an exterior customized according to the owner’s preferences. The owners were keen to give a distinctive look, and several configurations of superstructures were developed with particular focus on personal expression, the designer noted. The vessels feature reinforced steel hulls and aluminum superstructures…

The shallow draft market in South America continues to strengthen, powered by orders such as Hidrovias do Brasil S.A. 2013 deal for eight HB Pushboat ASUNCION-PYs, which represents a new generation of powerful Shallow Draft River Push Boat designed specifically for South America inland waterways logistics. Robert Allan Ltd. (RAL) designed and Vienna Model Basin optimized, the total deal for eight push boats is customized for Hidrovias do Brasil S.A., a river iron ore transport subcontractor company for Vale. The boats are designed to meld power with maneuverability in a 69 ton bollard package.

Ferus Smit has received an order from Symphony Shipping to build and deliver two DP2 offshore dedicated versions, with two options, of the new ECOBOX design. The two ships are in addition to the six ECOBOX-MPVs presently being built by Ferus Smit for the same client. The new design is based on the existing ECOBOX concept and, thanks to a DP2 dynamic positioning notation, can also be used as a large capacity and long range offshore supply vessel. The ECOBOX-DP vessel is particularly designed for project cargos in the windmill and oil and gas related industry…

Siemens Blue Drive PLUSC Low Voltage Propulsion Solution providing reliability, Safety, increased fuel efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions (Methane, NOX and SOX) and reduced maintenance costs. Siemens Industry announces it was awarded a contract to equip Otto Candies (OC) Subsea Support and Construction Vessel (SSCV) for offshore Oil & Gas support, with its unique Blue Drive PLUSC Diesel Electric Propulsion (DEP) Solution. Candies Shipbuilding located in Houma, LA. will build the vessel. The total order value is more than $6 million.

Power and automation technology group, ABB, says it has won contracts worth in excess of $20 million to supply electrical power and propulsion systems for two next generation offshore vessels. The first vessel is being constructed at Ulstein Verft in Norway for Island Ventures 11, the joint venture set up in 2012 by the leading US and Norwegian owners Edison Chouest Offshore and Island Offshore, whose advanced subsea service vessels provide high quality solutions to the offshore oil industry. At 28 meters wide and 145.7 meters long, and with accommodation for 200 people, the SX165 will be the largest vessel constructed by Ulstein Verft and is due for delivery in Q3 2015.

It could be argued that no other sector of the maritime market has experienced a design innovation revolution quite like the Offshore Service Vessel (OSV) market. Driven by demands to supply people, gear and goods to offshore installations that are increasingly further from shore in deeper waters, today’s OSV is a far cry from those built only a decade ago. Maritime Reporter examines some of the recent innovations in design and function. Deepwater operations are increasingly demanding more personnel offshore, often for longer periods of time, placing a greater emphasis on crew accommodation.

A new platform supply vessel (PSV) to be built for operating in arctic conditions is to be designed and powered by Wärtsilä. This is the first confirmed contract for Wärtsilä Ship Design's new series of arctic PSVs. Wärtsilä will also supply an integrated package that includes machinery, and the electrical and automation systems, including the patented Wärtsilä Low Loss Concept (LLC). This highly redundant diesel-electric system provides additional reliability for continuous operation in various failure modes. The contracts with Kleven Verft AS were signed in January 2014.

Long reserved for specialized applications such as icebreakers, diesel electric has enjoyed a rapid growth for marine propulsion in the past decade. Throughout that period, Cummins Marine has been a leader, supplying more than 900 diesel electric packages since delivering its first genset 2003. Early adopters of this flexible propulsion technology included the US firm Rigdon Marine with twenty vessels and France-based Bourbon Offshore with over 100 vessels. In late 2011 Aries Marine built two STX-designed Tiger Shark Class PSVs.

Siem Offshore has again contracted Wärtsilä to supply the design and integrated solutions for four new platform supply vessels (PSVs) to be built at the Remontowa Shipbuilding yard in Poland. The four new vessels, like the two currently under construction, will utilise the Wärtsilä VS 4411 DF ship design and will have Wärtsilä dual-fuel propulsion allowing them to operate primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG). With the various Wärtsilä systems having been integrated into a total solution…