Monday, February 11, 2019

Partners Claim Electric Hybrid Cargo Ship is a First for Short Sea Shipping of Freight

Scandinavian Cooperation Looks to the Future
Shipping News Feature
NORWAY – FINLAND – Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and Hagland Shipping AS are to retrofit a hybrid propulsion solution on one of the Norwegian based company's fleet, a general cargo vessel the Hagland Captain in what the two say will be the first project of its kind ever in short-sea freight shipping applications.

Wärtsilä has formerly of course worked on electrically powered vessels including RoRo ferries and, as with such cases, the installation of a battery hybrid propulsion solution will significantly enhance the ship’s environmental performance by reducing its emissions, fuel consumption, and noise. It is estimated that the total reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions after the retrofit could be as much as 80 to 90%, while overall fuel cost savings are expected to be in the range of 5 to 10%.

Included in the solution are a shore power connection to provide power for loading/unloading operations and for battery charging, a new reduction gear with power take-off and power take-in technology, and a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer. The battery capacity will be sufficient to sail in and out of harbour on electric power for approximately 30 minutes, which will effectively reduce noise and pollution levels in the vicinity of the harbour.

The project is in response to a collaborative agreement between Hagland Shipping and NOAH AS, the Norwegian environment and resource company and has been precipitated by the fact that the shipping of materials to the island of Langøya in Norway, where NOAH treats inorganic hazardous waste, is required to be via environmentally sound vessels. Wärtsilä’s solutions will play a crucial role in enabling the Hagland Captain to meet this requirement. Valuable input to the project concept has been given by the non-profit NGO, Bellona. Oivind Wendelboe Aanensen, COO, Hagland Shipping AS explained the reasons for choosing the Finnish firm thus:

“Wärtsilä has been chosen as a partner due to their significant experience in providing environmentally sound solutions such as hybrid systems. Wärtsilä’s forward-leaning and supportive approach has enabled Hagland and NOAH to arrive at an optimal solution. We believe our mutual project will have a considerable impact in the market and will further the environmental drive towards sustainable solutions in short-sea shipping.”

Wärtsilä’s hybrid solutions are based on a ‘first-of-its-kind’ fully integrated hybrid power module. This combines engines, an energy storage system using batteries, and power electronics optimised to work together through a newly developed energy management system and the company says it marks a new frontier in marine hybrid propulsion. Paul Kohle, Director, Sales & Sales Support, Asset Management Services, Wärtsilä Marine, observed:

“Environmental considerations are increasingly important for fleet owners around the world. The need for the latest smart marine technologies has been seen for some time already in deep sea shipping, and this project is evidence that the need also exists in short-sea transportation. Wärtsilä is responding to these developments with its Smart Marine Ecosystem approach, which through the use of high levels of digitalisation and connectivity, is creating greater efficiencies, increased safety, and more sustainable solutions.”

Photo: An artist’s impression of how the Hagland Captain will look post refit.