Rolls-Royce received Approval in Principle (AIP) from ABS for its hybrid propulsion system for tractor tugs. The AIP was granted after evaluating the world’s first hybrid tug, which will be the first tug boat installed with the Rolls-Royce hybrid propulsion system.
Namely, the Rolls-Royce vessel will be the world’s first hybrid tug and its design, by Jensen Maritime and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, will be delivered to Baydelta Maritime LLC in February 2019.
The Rolls-Royce Hybrid Propulsion System combines Power Take-In, electric motors, and main propulsion engines connected to Rolls-Royce azimuth thrusters. That, allows the vessel to operate in either a diesel-mechanical, diesel-electric or boost mode configuration.
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Rolls-Royce is to equip all electric motors, shaft generators, a power management and control system. The hybrid arrangement provides power to US255 azimuth thrusters with ducted fixed pitch propellers that can be rotated 360 degrees around the vertical axis. This arrangement optimises omni-directional thrust and makes the vessel easy to manoeuvre, as well as provides improved crash stop capability.
According to Griff Lane, Rolls-Royce SVP Commercial Marine, Americas, the partnership between Rolls-Royce and Baydelta Maritime, Jensen Maritime, Nichols Brothers and ABS has lauched a hybrid tug that provides capability and unsurpassed assist support to the ultra-large containerships that operate from US West Coast ports. He continued stating that the highlight of this vessel is that it lessens the power requirement.
