Page 65: of Marine News Magazine (May 2014)

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Long reserved for specialized applications such as ice- breakers, diesel electric has enjoyed a rapid growth for ma- rine propulsion in the past decade. Brazil’s Bravante Group recently took delivery of the M/V Bravante VI, their second in a fi ve vessel series of diesel-electric PSVs, from Florida’s

Eastern Shipbuilding. The Bravante V delivered in 2013 is already on charter in Brazilian waters. Designed by STX and designated the STX SV290 design the 284 x 60 x 24 foot (86.5 x 18.3 x 7.5-meter) vessels are built around four

Cummins-powered generators. Each 16-cylinder Cummins

QSK60-DM engine rated for 1825 kW at 1800 RPM pow- ers a Marathon Model 744 690VAC generator also supplied by Cummins. A pair of 690VAC electric motors each turn- ing nozzled fi xed-pitch propellers on Schottel Combi-Drives provides main propulsion. These two propulsion motors are each rated at 2,500 kW at 750 RPM to give a total of 6700

HP. Two Schottel 1180 kW tunnel thrusters with direct coupled electric drives also draw their power from the four main Cummins QSK60-powered generators. The fl exibility of the diesel electric system in providing power to both ends of the vessel as well as to a wide array of cargo pumps and general ship requirements continues to attract owners’ atten- tion and orders.

LEEVAC Shipyards Jennings, LLC recently launched the M/V Ram Nation. The Ram Nation is an LEEVAC- designed 270 ft., diesel-electric, DPS-2, FI FI 1 Platform

Supply Vessel that will be certifi ed for worldwide opera- tions. Chris Vaccari, owner and CEO of Leevac, says the

Ram Nation is the fi rst of four LDS-designed vessels cur- rently under construction. The design was a joint effort between LEEVAC’s engineering and Aries’ operational teams. The Ram Nation is scheduled to be delivered dur- ing the third quarter of this year.

Kvichak Marine Industries delivered Astoria, a self-right- ing 74 foot all-aluminum pilot boat, to the Columbia River

Bar Pilots (CRBP) of Astoria, OR. Astoria is the third CRBP pilot boat designed by Camarc, Ltd., of the UK and built by Kvichak. The pilots christened Astoria at a ceremony last week where the vessel has joined Columbia, built in 2008.

The pilots operate the vessels over the bar at the mouth of the

Columbia River. Known for its extreme weather and turbu- lent waters, the Columbia River Bar is where the Columbia

River collides with the Pacifi c Ocean. The resulting condi- tions require reliable, stable and self-righting pilot boats that safely and successfully transport pilots to and from the ships and tugs that navigate across the Bar. Power for the 75.5 x 21.5 foot Astoria is provided by twin MTU 16V2000 M70 marine diesel engines rated for 1410 BHP @ 2100 RPM and twin ZF 3050 electric shift transmissions. The engines are coupled to a pair of Hamilton 651 waterjets. Top speed is 29 knots; cruise speed is 25 knots.

Diesel-Electric Propulsion for Offshore

LEEVAC Rams Ahead for Aries

Kvichak Delivers for CRBP MN 65www.marinelink.com

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