Lithuanian ship developer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is introducing brand-new layouts wherefore it thinks is the very first electrical pusher vessel for usage on Europe’s inland rivers called the Electric Eel.
Klaipeda headquartered WBE stated the initial electrical pusher is because of be constructed following year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport as well as Communications.
WBE’s Head of Sales & & Marketing Egl ė Mikalauskien ė, stated the brand-new innovative vessel is created to change diesel pushers which currently control the marketplace for ‘pushing’ non-propelled barges around Europe’s inland rivers. WBE is generating the principle equally as the European Union is increase stress to change products to Europe’s Inland Waterways by means of even more environment-friendly powered vessels.
“We are so excited to unveil this electric pusher design,” Egle stated. “The Electric Eel has huge potential to help cut carbon emissions on inland waterways across Europe and worldwide. The idea came after we were approached by the Lithuanian Maritime Cluster to see if we could help the Lithuanian Inland Waterways authority create an eco-efficient pusher. The authority has big plans to ramp up use of the 450-kilometer stretch of waterway between Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea to Kaunas to switch cargo from the road network in line with EU policy. It is brilliant to be supporting this bold vision and work on a sustainable clean fuel solution right here on our own doorstep. As a measure of the impact the authority estimates the pusher can help remove 10,000 trucks a year from Lithuania’s roads.”
In regards to the larger market Mikalauskien ė stated large stress is currently beginning federal governments as well as transportation companies from the European Commission to decrease carbon dioxide discharges as well as change roadway products, which makes up 75% of EU inland products, to absolutely no discharge vessels operating inland river transportation (IWT) which makes up simply 6%.
“The market is huge,” she stated. “According to figures there is a fleet of 332 diesel pushers on the Danube alone pushing more than 2000 non propelled barges. We estimate each of these vessels is emitting 196,317 KGs Tank To Wheel (TTW) of CO2, per navigation, while our electric pusher design slashes this at a stroke as it emits zero CO2. The beauty of our design is also in its ease of use, it can be bought and then built at a local shipyard near the customer or we can built it in Lithuania. We believe our electric pusher is a first mover in the market and can play a critical role in the drive to transform the IWT of Lithuania as well as the Danube and Rhine.”
Mikalauskien ė stated the pusher style is pending course Approval in Principle with Bureau Veritas as well as can run at a series of 300 kilometers prior to requiring to quit. The 26m lengthy vessel is powered by 3 DNV authorized batteries with a consolidated weight of 74 tonnes, 2 kept in TEU containers on deck which can be changed by means of crane at harbor, as well as one irreversible battery listed below deck which can be billed at quayside. The vessel has a pressing capability of 2,000 tonnes as well as a full throttle of 22km/h downstream at 85% engine tons. The electrical batteries develop an engine power of 500 HP/400 KW contrasted to a diesel matching which has 1,000 HP/800 KW.
“The biggest challenge we faced was weight and draft,” she stated. “The Lithuanian inland waterway is presently very shallow so we had to design a vessel that was as light as possible, no more than 195 DWT, with a draft not greater than 1.2 meters. So we have created a super-efficient hull design which will operate brilliantly on shallow waters in Europe and around the world. Through trial and error using rigorous computerized fluid dynamic (CFD) testing we have produced the smoothest possible hull resistance. We’re also using thin lighter steel, approved by class, to reduce weight while at the same time keeping safety of paramount importance. In addition, we have innovated the wheelhouse, using a jack up design made of aluminum, again to spread and reduce weight.
Mikalauskienė said another innovation on board is the use of a wind turbine to generate 5kw of additional electricity for lighting, the galley and crew facilities.
“All the WBE team are incredibly proud of the design and we would like to thank all the parties involved,” she stated. “Over time as green energy becomes cheaper the cost of charging the batteries will also significantly reduce giving big future savings over diesel.”
(Image: Western Baltic Engineering)
