Schottel Upgrades For Norwegian Bulk Carrier

Schottel said its Modernization and Conversion Team will be applying a customized upgrade to the Norwegian bulk carrier Kryssholm.

The changes will help increase maneuverability and lower environmental impact, the company said.

“Schottel, with whom we have a long-standing and consistently good partnership, has again convinced us by finding an individual, custom-fit solution for the vessel,” said Nils Tore Øpstad Melingen, General Manager at vessel owner Bio Feeder AS. “We are absolutely satisfied with the performance of the Schottel thrusters in our other vessel and thus decided the same way again. A decisive factor was also the spare parts and service supply – with Schottel as OEM, this is reliably secured in the long term.”

Schottel Retractable Rudderpropellers and Transverse Thrusters

Two retractable rudder propellers type SRP 130 R (300 kW each) and two transverse thrusters type STT 1 (450 kW each) will be installed in addition to the existing main propulsion system of the vessel, a MAK 8M20C main engine. The rudder propellers and thrusters will help maximize the ship’s maneuverability capabilities and its position stability will be increased enormously. In turn, this will extend the vessel’s operation profiles so that it can be used for a wider variety of future tasks, the company said.

To reduce the environmental impact, the Schottel propulsion units will be driven by electric motors powered by a hybrid grid of batteries and generators. By equipping the vessel with a state-of-the-art power management system, the required electric power is provided on demand according to operational needs, the company said.

Cargo capacity of more than 3000 tonnes

Kryssholm, built in 2011, measures an overall length of 89.9 m and a width of 13.6 m. The vessel will be operating for Biomar as fish feed vessel six months a year; the rest of the time it is charted to Wagle Chartering for transporting general cargo. It is considered to be the largest fish feed vessel in the world, boasting a cargo capacity of more than 3000 tonnes. In years to come, it will be able to supply most of the coastal and ocean-based fish farms with feed.

Beyond the special task of supplying fish feed, the vessel will still be able to provide sustainable and efficient general cargo service. As the owner states, the vessel is the first in the world that is fit for such a hybrid operation. It sails under the Norwegian flag and will be classified by Rina.