Damen Maaskant electrifies razor shell fishing vessel

Damen Maaskant and Yerseke 118 Noordland B.V. have a longstanding relationship that includes working together over the past two years ago to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The result is the delivery of an electric propulsion motor for the 43-meter YE118, which will be used to fish for razor shells.

An electric propulsion motor has been added to the 43-meter YE118 razor shell fishing vessel. (Photo: Damen Maaskant)

According to Jeroen van den Berg, commercial manager at Damen Maaskant, exhaust gas aftertreatment, electrification and the application of batteries are currently the best solutions available to decarbonize the shellfish and aquaculture sector. “In the future, this will include the application of e-fuels, which will require the same kind of drives and batteries,” he added.

The YE118 had two propulsion engines and two generators. At the Damen Maaskant shipyard in Stellendam, the conventional diesel propulsion engine on the port side was removed and replaced with a new 400-kW electric motor in cooperation with Wetec. According to Damen Maaskant, the result was a reduction of almost 500 kW of total installed power and a reduction in emissions and maintenance costs.

In early 2023, Yerseke Engine Services (YES) replaced the existing C18 generator set with a GreenPower GPC18 gen-set with ultra-low NOx mode. An exhaust gas aftertreatment system with ultra-low NOx mode has also been added to the existing starboard Caterpillar C18 main engine.

A special interface module, which is linked to the onboard GPS, includes the location of all Natura 2000 areas. As soon as the vessel’s position falls within a Natura 2000 area, the system switches to the ultra-low NOx mode and reduces emissions by more than 99%.

“Thanks to the support of our network and local suppliers, we were able to achieve the refit of the YE118 with the successful result of reducing NOx emissions in a very short lead time of 10 days,” said Van den Berg.

Following successful sea trials on October 21, 2023, the vessel set course for its fishing grounds.