Page 35: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2015)

The “Hour of

Power”

Hybrid Marine Technology & Green Ports n 2015 two signi? cant developments are going to

The 19 m research vessel ‘Spirit of the Sound’ runs virtually silently on hybrid electric power for two-hour make many operators, owners and builders of pro- study cruises on Long Island Sound.

I fessional vessels consider hybrid marine power.

Firstly the new emissions laws in ports and secondly diesel / electric systems. These include wind farm ser- there is now an incentive for high technology manufac- vice vessels and pilot boats that have relatively con-

The Author turers to invest in developing highly ef? cient batteries.

sistent duty cycles. We are entering a period of rapid

John Haynes is an Associate Fellow of The Nautical Insti-

Hybrid is ‘here and now’ technology that is being change and commercial opportunity in the hybrid ma- tute, Yachtmaster Ocean and Advanced Powerboat In- used by many industries globally. The marine indus- rine market. End-user organizations, boat builders, en- structor. Subject matter expertise includes high speed try is now recognizing the potential of utilizing hybrid gine manufacturers and naval architects are now inves- craft consultancy, product development and specialist power and innovative propulsion systems for vessels in tigating systems for survey vessels, superyacht tenders, training. He is managing director of Shock Mitigation.

the sub IMO / sub 24 meter professional sector.

patrol vessels and unmanned craft. www.shockmitigation.com ‘The Hour Of Power’ has been well received by the marine industry worldwide. This simple concept en- ables vessels to run in and out of port for an hour on electric with battery power - then carry out their open sea work on diesel power. The aim of this innovative hybrid solution is to enhance conventional propulsion systems. Vessels can reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption whilst extending engine maintenance periods and engine life.

This is not just green energy for the sake of it - ‘The

Hour Of Power’ focuses on hybrid solutions linked to viable business cases. For commercial and professional organisations the concept of running vessels with zero emissions at up to 10 knots for one hour will shape de- cisions that lead to improvements of in-service systems and procurement of next generation vessels. The over- all objective is fuel saving and improved ef? ciency by all means.

For the marine industry to move forward it needs to use expertise from aviation and other sectors to drive this innovation and support relevant safety standards.

Automotive manufacturers in Europe, the Far East and the U.S. have recognised that hybrid technologies such as PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) using lithium ion batteries will be dominant for the next de- cade. Reducing emissions from busses and trucks in the world’s major cities has been a major driver for lithium ion battery power storage. The need for self suf? cient land based grid applications has further extended the capabilities of next generation battery and hybrid tech- nology.

There are two main types of hybrid system. A serial hybrid is where the engine only powers a generator, and is not mechanically connected to the propeller shaft. A parallel hybrid is where the engine is mechanically con- nected along with an electric ‘machine’ that can operate as both propulsion motor and generator.

Certain sectors are potentially well suited to hybrid www.marinelink.com 35

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