A diesel-electric hybrid power and propulsion contract for an unusual catamaran dive support vessel (DSV) has been won by Canada-based Aspin Kemp & Associates (AKA) who solved the owner’s quest for a system that would operate at peak efficiency while ensuring that safety and redundancy measures were in place.  Australia’s Bhagwan Marine’s 56-m DSV was designed by Incat Crowther, also in Australia, and is to be built at the Keppel Singmarine shipyard in Singapore. Multi-purpose Dive Support Vesse: Image courtesy of Incat Crowther Now, here’s a Swiss Army knife of an offshore vessel if ever there was one, designed from the keel up to perform six key roles: dive support, geophysical survey, geotechnical survey, cargo transport, hyperbaric rescue and safety standby. Such varied roles demand a multitude of propulsion responses, including liberal idle times while under way, and AKA’s ‘Duty-cycle analysis’ with its XeroPoint Hybrid system see... [More]

 One of the first ships in the world to use a DC bus system for the main electrical installation recently entered service – the Abis Dover a 6000 dwt twin screw, diesel-electric powered, multipurpose special cargo vessel. M/V Abis Dover: Photo credit Alewijnse Marine Systems Built in the Shipkits shipyard in a project that included Vuyk Engineering Groningen, Alewijnse Marine Systems, all based in The Netherlands, and Finland’s Vacon, the ship’s upper cargo hold is a remarkable 80 m (262.5 ft) in length, almost 75% of the LOA of 107m (351ft), achieved by avoiding space-consuming propellor shafts and going for the diesel-electric propulsion option. Propulsion power comes from six Scania gensets, tucked away in space otherwise wasted, to drive steerable Z-drive thrusters. Not content with that, the design team set themselves the task of  overcoming the main disadvantage of conventional AC power, namely that all the generators have to run synchronously ... [More]

The Norwegian company Inpower A/S has produced a direct diesel electric propulsion system called ΦDRIVE (Phi drive) which can control single or multiple drives up to approximately 5MW. They claim is as flexible as a conventional diesel-electric system, yet offering the same levels of efficiency, simplicity and robustness as a conventional diesel mechanical system. The ΦDRIVE is based on directly coupled, permanent magnet machines to achieve an improvement in efficiency. The permanent magnet machines provide a more compact installation freeing up valuable revenue producing space on board commercial vessels. A ΦDRIVE has been in service in the M/F Eiksund, a RoRo car and passenger ferry of LOA 160 ft (49 m) since summer 2011. [More]

As the popularity of diesel electric propulsion increases, attention is being focused on ways of improving the system which is often criticized for being bulky and heavy. In an attempt to solve some of these negative features, Wärtsilä has produced a Low Loss Concept (LLC) for DE installations that offers improved performance at lower cost. In the LLC system, the propulsion transformers are eliminated and replaced by one or two Low Loss Concept transformers in a central location. Wärtsilä LLC is available for low-voltage (690V) and medium-voltage (6600V) applications, covering power requirements of 5-70 MW. Resulting efficiencies can deliver significant fuel savings in the region of between $40,000 and $135,000 depending on the vessel size/type and operational profile. [More]

Disney Dream, Disney Cruises latest Caribbean cruise ship of 128,000 GT and 4,000 passenger capacity was delivered by German builders Meyer Werft on 15, December 2010 and is scheduled to make the transatlantic crossing for a maiden cruise departure on 26, January 2011 from home base Port Canaveral, Florida.  A Disney publicity department staffer described the cruise liner as offering guests, "A perfect blend of elegant Art Deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy to create one of the most spectacular ships afloat." Yet apart from the hype, which is forgivable considering competition in the growing cruise marketplace, there has been little mention of the state-of-the-art construction of this huge liner, the biggest ever built in Germany, and of its hi-tech propulsion.Laser and 'Lego' Shipbuilding Disney Dream first began taking shape early 2009 using 'Lego' building principles in a totally enclosed weather-proof building hall enclosing the dry dock at Meyer Werft's shipyard at Pap... [More]