Wärtsilä unveils Jones Act SOV design
Wärtsilä, in close collaboration
with key stakeholders – including charterers, shipyards, third-party suppliers
and operators – has designed a US flagged, Jones Act compliant hybrid
multi-purpose service operation vessel (SOV). The designers also worked
closely with classification societies including DNV and ABS, which both
provided valuable input to the vessel design.
Wärtsilä’s OPTI Design methodology, a data-driven approach that focuses
on the vessel’s total propulsive efficiency, will be applied to achieve
balance between propeller, engine and hull. Rather than adding a propulsion
system to a finished vessel design, with this approach the two are designed
simultaneously, explained Wärtsilä.
“This means we can determine the effects of interaction between the propulsion
unit and the vessel itself and use the information to deliver optimal efficiency,
reduced costs and emissions and maximised performance,” said Blake
Jackson, Sales Engineer, New Builds, Wärtsilä Marine Business.
The vessel design features Wärtsilä’s patented Low Loss Concept (LLC),
an energy-efficient and redundant power distribution system for electric
propulsion applications.
The design integrates a range of Wärtsilä’s green systems and solutions,
including shore-charging cold iron systems and a hybrid powertrain employing
a containerised battery-on-board energy storage system. The company stated
that this allows for peak shaving, helping the engines to run at optimal
load, thereby lowering both emissions and maintenance costs. The design
also includes space for the integration of potential future powerplant
and fuel technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.
It features two boat landings aimed to enhance the safety and efficiency
of operations by providing dedicated safe-passage zones for technicians
transferring to and from crew transfer vessels. Wärtsilä SmartDock, an
automated system that enables consistent and repeatable docking. Operators
can also utilise Wärtsilä’s Smart Voyage Optimisation solutions, which
are designed to improve fuel efficiency and safety.
To ensure safe operations in all sea conditions the multi-purpose SOV features
Wärtsilä’s own dynamic positioning system that is fully integrated with
the vessel’s propulsion system. This supports, for example, the vessel's
walk to work system, where technicians access the working location via
a centrally located 3D motion-compensated gangway integrated into the structure
of the vessel.
The vessel’s double-decked cargo space provides ample room for technicians,
lifting equipment, parts storage and palletised and containerised cargo.
The latter is stored in the dedicated upper deck, which can be fitted with
an optional container-handling system. The 76-metre vessel can accommodate
up to 60 crew and wind-farm technicians in 55 single and five state cabins.
“The layout reduces common areas to provide more space in individual cabins,
which can be configured for double occupancy if needed. This is another
way in which the design allows for greater flexibility should the vessel’s
operational profile or application change in the future,” stated Jackson.
“The design also takes into consideration the need for crew members to
maintain a safe distance from one another in logistics and workflows during
situations such as the current COVID-19 pandemic."
