Schottel Supplying Propulsion Units For Three Hybrid Ferries

Schottel will provide propulsion units for three hybrid ferries under construction at Sembcorp Marine, Singapore.

Each of the double-ended Ro-Pax ferries will be equipped with two Schottel EcoPellers type SRE 340 FP. The vessels will be driven by a battery/diesel-electric hybrid system and will be operated during their transits by battery power, the company said.

The main propulsion for the LMG 80-DEH design ferries consists of PM motor-driven Schottel EcoPellers type SRE 340 with 2.1 m diameter fixed pitch propellers. With these thrusters, an economical operation of the vessels at a service speed of 10 kn and a free running speed of 12.5 kn is achieved, the company said. Beyond this, the propulsion units are designed to provide full thrust in the desired direction even with strong side winds.

With the SRE, Norled’s requirements could be met: Schottel EcoPellers, covering the power range from 500 to 5000 kW, are designed to ensure high efficiency even at very low loads. The propulsion system was developed primarily for open seas and coastal operating conditions. Due to its efficiency, the azimuth thruster contributes to the ship’s low fuel consumption, resulting in low operating costs and reduced emissions, the company said. In addition, the SREs improve course keeping stability and consequently reduce steering angle corrections.

In operating mode, the required power is supplied by two battery packs installed onboard. These are recharged from the land grid during the 11-minute stays on the quay. Additionally, an automatic mooring system, which holds the ferries at the quay and starts the charging process, will be integrated into the shore charging system. Only in emergencies will the vessels use generators running on 100% biodiesel.

The trio of vessels is tailored for Norled’s shortsea Hella-Vangsnes-Dragsvik connections in Norway. Each of the new 84.2 m long multi-deck, double-ended vessels will be able to accommodate up to 300 passengers and crew members. It will be capable of carrying 80 cars or a combination of ten cars and ten trailer trucks.

Deliveries of the ferries are scheduled to take place in the last quarter of 2020.