Page 56: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2020)

Maritime Autonomy

Special report on the policies, technologies, challenges and the players

Maritime Propulsion

Autonomous Surface Vessels ‘Go Electric’ review of recent new autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) reveals may be undesirable or in some cases that a growing number of these specialized craft are electric pow- limited by regulatory restrictions. Oper- ered. To learn more about this trend, we turned to Torqeedo, a ating expenses are lower – not only in leader in the marine electric power space. We spoke with Steve fuel savings but also ongoing mainte-

A

Trkla, President of Torqeedo, Inc.

nance.

Electric drives require very little regu- ro? ts. We have been actively involved lar maintenance.

We note that Torqeedo recently passed an important milestone. with dozens of ASV builders, who tell And there’s always a safety concern th

This year we are celebrating our 15 us that their customers are increasingly with highly ? ammable gasoline on board. ASV operations are typically year of business and are delivering our asking for electric power.

There are several reasons. Some of conducted at minimal speeds. Slow 100,000th electric drive.

them are obvious. Electric motors are speeds mean lower power consumption, quieter – an important consideration for resulting on longer endurance times on

Do you see the ASV segment a growth boats involved in acoustic surveys. In station without depleting the batteries. market for electric propulsion?

Yes, we are seeing a de? nite move addition, many times ASVs are required Direct-drive electric motors also pro- to work in environmentally sensitive duce outstanding torque for towing and from gas outboards to electric propul- waters where the noise and emissions retrieving sensor arrays.

sion in ASVs, both newbuilds and ret-

WAM-V from Marine Advanced Robotics. (R): Steve Trkla

Photo: Marine Advanced Robotics 56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2020

MR #2 (50-65).indd 56 2/7/2020 10:10:51 AM