Rolls-Royce Tugging At Hybrid Sector

BY IAN CAMERON

Rolls-Royce will supply the tugboat sector with the company’s first hybrid propulsion arrangement for installation to a multi-purpose tractor tug undergoing construction for Baydelta Maritime LLC. The vessel is being built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, in Washington state, USA.

The order represents the first hybrid tug using Rolls-Royce hybrid technology, the first installation of a hybrid system for Nichols Brothers and the first hybrid tug designed by Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp’s Seattle-based naval architecture and engineering firm.

Rolls-Royce will supply all electric motors, shaft generators and a power management and control system. The Hybrid arrangement provides power to US255 azimuth thrusters with ducted fixed pitch propellers that can be rotated 360º around the vertical axis. This arrangement optimizes omni-directional thrust and maneuverability as well as providing improved crash stop capability.

The 100-foot long tug will feature the same ship assist and tanker escort capabilities of existing Delta Class harbor tugs but with greatly improved towing performance. The Rolls-Royce hybrid system enhances the vessel’s escort capability, enabling the tug to provide support for assisting the ultra-large containerships that operate from US West Coast ports.

“Baydelta Maritime is a long-standing customer for Rolls-Royce, but this order is of particular significance because it marks our first Rolls-Royce Hybrid System for a tug,” said Erik Larsen, Rolls-Royce, vice president – Tug and Fish, Americas. “The tug will provide improved fuel efficiency and emissions. It shows this market, that the Rolls-Royce portfolio extends way beyond our US-type azimuth thrusters, the propulsion system of choice for this segment.”

Rolls-Royce and Baydelta have been working together since the 1990s, when the San Francisco-based operator specified its first azimuth thrusters. Since then Baydelta’s entire fleet of tractor tugs is equipped with drive units.

“Our US 255 azimuth thrusters are ideally suited to provide the maneuverability and bollard pull needed for operations in larger harbors, terminals and escort applications. One of the reasons for success is the product’s ability to provide bollard pull of more than 90 tons.

“The key benefit operating these thrusters in a hybrid configuration is that it reduced the power requirement. Typically, a tug of this size would need a power output 2500 kW. The hybrid arrangement allows operators to achieve the required bollard pull from a smaller engine. It provides greater operational flexibility,” Larsen added.

Peter Zwart, vice president of Operations, Baydelta Maritime, highlighted the maintenance benefits of the Rolls-Royce system.

“We started building this current class of tugs in 2007 and now all our tugs have Rolls-Royce thrusters, the US 255. We know that with proper maintenance they last a long time, hopefully up to 15 years without a major overhaul”.

Commenting on their operational performance, Mark Barnum, Captain, Baydelta Maritime, added: “In San Francisco Bay containerships can enter at high rates of speed to maintain maneuverability and Rolls Royce thrusters are very responsive. We can go from full ahead to full astern in under 30 seconds. They also allow us to provide pilots with high tonnage breaks to prevent anything from happening during maneuvers.”

The new tug Jensen Maritime has designed for Baydelta will be capable of a 90 short-ton bollard pull and capable of carrying up to 71 000 gal. of fuel, 4300 gal. of fresh water, a large pilot house will provide all-around visibility, and the deckhouse has an open feel with a large mess and lounge area along with accommodations for an eight-person crew.