A new hybrid ferry is to feature a range of Wärtsilä technology solutions to make it the most environmentally sustainable vessel operating between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland.
The ferry will be fitted with a Wärtsilä hybrid battery, the first vessel to utilise this technology, and will be able to operate on conventional fuel as well to enable flexible operation while maintaining high efficiency, reduced exhaust gas emissions and low noise levels. The Wärtsilä hybrid management system enables significant improvements in energy efficiency compared with conventional systems as the engines can be run at optimal load and the load fluctuations can be absorbed by using batteries.
The equipment to be delivered includes four 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 20 generating sets, electrical and automation (E&A) systems, and a sanitary discharge system. Within the E&A solutions there will be an integrated automation system (AIS), a power and energy management system (PMS/EMA), and a 690-volt main switchboard.
Wärtsilä will also supply technical and project management, and solution integration engineering services.
Stephan Kuhn, Vice President, Electrical & Automation at Wärtsilä commented: “This new Wightlink ferry is designed to be energy efficient and environmentally sustainable using the latest Wärtsilä technologies. In particular, the use of Wärtsilä’s hybrid system represents a state-of-the-art solution for propulsion efficiency, which in turn has a beneficial effect on exhaust emissions.”
Wightlink has stated that this new ferry will act as Wightlink’s flagship for its four and half million passengers carried each year.
The ferry is being built at the Cemre shipyard in Turkey for UK operator Wightlink and is expected to enter into service in 2018, following the delivery of the Wärtsilä technologies in spring 2017.
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