Page 19: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2023)

OSV FUEL TRANSITION

CEO of the BSMC) talked about Harvey Gulf’s experiences, report points out: “Only biofuels can be currently stored and noting that after ? tting SailPlan kit aboard Harvey Power, it used in existing onboard fuel tanks and would provide nearly realized that “station-keeping” was actually its biggest source equivalent power.” of emissions. One shipyard, Master Boat Builders (MBB), has been at the

Bomgardner, describing experiences with one customer’s forefront of the push towards electri? cation in the workboat dual-fuel vessels, detailed a ? nding where running on ma- sector. In the spring of 2022, the Coden, Alabama yard, deliv- rine diesel, rather than LNG operation, led to reduced carbon ered a hybrid (Caterpillar diesels and generators) tug to Seab- emissions in a particular circumstance. ulk Towing, with a design from Robert Allan Ltd.

The message from Bomgardner and Cummins was that ac- The vessel, Spartan, which can operate using the Tier 4 tual readings, rather than formula-based estimates, are key for main engines, generators, or both- linked to propulsion motors optimizing fuel usage. from ABB, has been doing escort work along the Texas Gulf

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), in a report de- Coast; a second vessel has also been commissioned. veloped around data from Vanderbilt University’s VECTOR, Also under construction at MBB is eWolf, an all-electric tug looked closely at the inland sector, with ? ndings relevant to scheduled for delivery to Crowley later in 2023. offshore vessels. It offered that electri? cation, with its need The boat, with a 6.2 MWh battery developed by Corvus En- for recharging, made sense in ? eet boats and towing vessels ergy and integrated into an ABB electric propulsion system, not working continuously. will be deployed in San Diego, handling ship assists.

The authors noted that: “Biofuels and methanol are fea- Shoreside charging will be done through a pair of Corvus sible non-fossil fuel alternatives because they can be used in Orca BOBs (the Corvus battery, housed in a 20’ container), at some existing marine engines and are supported by current quayside when the tug is between jobs. The ABB piloting kit infrastructure.” (which could support future autonomous operation) links to a

In looking at the “energy density” of alternative fuels, the pair of L-Drive azimuth thrusters.

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