Singapore stands at the vanguard of designing, conceptualizing, and owning future electric vessel fleets, aimed at delivering zero-emissions transport and services in ports and offshore areas, reports Riviera.
Optimizing harbor operations
In alignment with the Maritime and Port Authority’s (MPA) strategy for decarbonizing harbor operations, vessel owners are actively investing in innovative concepts and designs for vessels powered by batteries or hybrid propulsion systems.
Headquartered in Singapore, SeaTech Solutions International (SSI) has developed designs that empower the maritime industry in Asia to embrace new technologies and meet environmental demands. Additionally, the company has extended this expertise to the maritime sectors of India and China, following agreements signed in Q4 2023.
SSI has designed a range of electric harbor craft, tugboats, offshore support vessels, bunker ships, and tankers to supply alternative fuels for the green transition.
SeaTech Solutions vice president for technology Prabjot Singh Chopra attributes this advanced naval architecture to the close collaboration with like-minded partners in Singapore.
This encompasses collaboration among owners, regulators, technology providers, shipyards, and designers, aimed at developing a new generation of vessels with minimal environmental footprints.
These efforts culminated in the development, construction, and commissioning of Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel in Q4 2023. Yinson GreenTech’s 18-m Hydromover was delivered and entered commercial trials featuring swappable containerized batteries on a vessel supplying ships around Singapore.
Shift Clean Energy acted as the battery technology partner, while RINA Hong Kong Ltd Singapore branch served as the classification society. Singapore yard Lita Ocean Pte Ltd constructed Hydromover, with United Overseas Bank as the lead financier for the prototype’s development. With its swappable batteries, the vessel is expected to produce zero emissions. Yinson claims it can even reduce operational costs by up to 50% compared with a conventional vessel.
This prototype will serve to refine designs for future electric cargo and passenger transfer vessels to be constructed in Singapore.
Using swappable containers reduces the pressure on terminal owners to invest in charging infrastructure and eliminates vessels needing permanent battery rooms.
All-electric tugs
SSI has also developed the E-Volt, an all-electric tugboat design, with the first unit being constructed in Indonesia by, and for, Vallianz Holdings. It will be utilized for zero-emissions towage at the PT United Sindo Perkasa shipyard in Batam. This 26-meter vessel will feature a beam of 9 m with a bollard pull of 30 tonnes, with onboard batteries and a backup generator. It will be equipped with a single-drum winch on the bow and a towing winch aft. Mr Prabjot explains that the tug could also have swappable batteries to extend its range.
A similar concept has been adopted in India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), which aims to construct the first battery-powered tugboat as part of its initiative to become a hub for green shipbuilding by 2030.
GRSE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with designer SSI, classification society ABS, and battery system provider Shift Clean Energy. A tugboat could be built according to SSI’s E-Volt 50 design, setting the stage for low-emissions harbor operations in India and serving as a precursor for more battery-powered tugs.
Future solutions
There are also plans to expand this technology and other SSI ship designs into China following the naval architect’s signing of an MoU with Suzhou Yujiang Ship Technology Co. This joint venture will be aimed at offering cutting-edge ship design and engineering services in the marine and offshore sectors.
There are also plans to install batteries on offshore support vessels and larger ships. This initiative aims to reduce energy consumption and engine room maintenance while providing additional power.
SSI is engaged in the design and construction of a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) in Batam by Marco Polo Marine (MPM), where the battery pack will be used for peak-shaving power. This 83-m CSOV not only reduces emissions but is also future-ready, equipped to operate on methanol fuel for additional emission reductions. It is scheduled for delivery in Q1 2024.
Furthermore, SSI has developed an additional 80-m SOV for MPM. This vessel functions as a mother ship for wind turbine technicians, facilitating maintenance and service work at offshore wind farms. While the CSOV is specifically designed to support commissioning works during the construction of offshore wind farms, it is also suitable for their subsequent maintenance operations.
In line with its ongoing commitment to the maritime industry’s green transition, SSI recently achieved a significant milestone in early January 2024. It established a collaboration with Hainan Hehui Industrial Development Co involving a vessel owned by Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers and classified by RINA, which is diesel-electric, but running on methanol fuel.
Increased optimization and emissions reduction are expected through the power management system and an installed energy storage system.
Software and advanced computer processing are vital components for designing and optimizing naval architecture. SSI uses various programs for design, engineering, analysis, and assessing vessel designs.
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Source: Riviera
