Finnish corporation Wartsila has launched a new concept featuring a series shuttle ferries, which it claims feature zero or low emissions.
The concept is aligned with the Norwegian Government’s new environmental regulations for ferries that seek to eliminate harmful emissions.
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Wärtsilä Ship Design and Electrical and Automation offices had partnered to develop this concept which promotes a single solution providing customers with an optimised design and a single point of contact, thereby streamlining the engineering, integration, and follow-up procedures throughout the project phase.
It aims to promote high-energy efficiency with low resistance, both above and below the water.
The ferries battery-engine hybrid configuration will be propelled with liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biofuel to curb fuel consumption by 100% as compared to the existing installations, during a plug-in operation as well as eliminating all local emissions up to 50%.
Wärtsilä Marine Solutions Ship Design vice-president Riku-Pekka Hägg said: “Wärtsilä is fully committed to producing ship designs, marine products, and integrated solutions that make a significant contribution towards lowering the environmental footprint of shipping.
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By GlobalData“This new concept is one more example of this focus.
“By making it possible for ferries to eliminate exhaust emissions entirely, we feel that we are again acting proactively to protect the marine environment.”
The newly developed concept incorporates Wärtsilä’s new wireless inductive charging system, which reportedly reduces time and energy involved in shuttle ferry operations of about 20,000 or more departures a year.
The system eliminates the use of physical cables connections, hence reducing the chances of damage and facilitating an immediate charging option to enable a quick departure of the vessel after its arrival at quay.
It also features a complete electrical and automation package based on the company’s battery / hybrid solution, including Wärtsilä azimuth propulsion units and a complete bridge control system.
The cost-effective ferries have a capacity to accommodate 60 to 120 cars on a single car deck enabling a quick and easy loading and unloading.
Apart from the newly constructed ferries, Wartsila can empower the existing ferry propulsion units with its battery and hybrid solutions, in a bid to adhere to the new regulations.
Image: The new Wärtsilä ferry concept featuring zero exhaust emissions. Photo: courtesy of Wärtsilä.
