Page 42: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2017)

The Norway Way - Hybrids

Photo: handout

A Hy ybrid Drive’s

DIGITAL LANDSCAPE

BY WILLIAM STOICHEVSKI “We can get close to real-time data back support system. “It means captains are

Hybrid drive and potential fuel savings are well known to the center here,” says ABB global tech- not alone anymore,” Nakken adds.

— from 10 to 30 percent, according to the sources nical support manager, Stian Braastad, as Nor are the crew. A recent U.S. Na- he shows us some of the back-up being tional Transportation Safety Board report we’ve written about over the years. Less known, is the offered live to ship owners and captains on a how the cargo vessel El Faro sunk out there, somewhere, in the world’s reveals the captain’s voyage into danger- potential need to purchase some sort of remote moni- oceans. “If something happens on board, ous weather exposed the ship to pound- toring package to complement that diesel-electric or it will take from three to ? ve minutes be- ing waves that knocked out her boilers. fore that event is actually displayed on Manual communication with shore was battery hybrid system from a system operator in order one of the dashboards here. The lights in ineffective. Before it sunk, the second the ceiling will go red, and our technical mate made a desperate call to company to secure the maximum safety bene? ts. As the count of support engineers will be able to see the headquarters to inform of engine trouble vessel speci? cations. They’re available and ask for emergency help. With Abil- system operators offering hybrid drives grows, so too, 24/7.” Braastad is echoed by Kenneth ity, in contrast, shore-based engineers — it seems, there’s continuous need to look at who they

Nakken, vice-president of ABB digital like the 30 percent of Ability’s engineers services, as both show us the ? ner points that have been chief engineers aboard are and what they’re offering.

of ABB’s new Ability remote diagnostics real vessels — are alerted to a tagged-up

H 42 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2017

MR #5 (42-49).indd 42 MR #5 (42-49).indd 42 5/4/2017 8:56:11 AM5/4/2017 8:56:11 AM