V-Bunkers Marine Charge is Singapore’s first hybrid-electric bunker tanker
Vitol’s Singapore bunkering firm, V-Bunkers, is to take supply of its first electric-hybrid bunker tanker, Marine Charge. Classed by Bureau Veritas (BV), the vessel options superior vitality storage and charging applied sciences that may assist scale back GHG emissions from port operations in Singapore.
“We are delighted to be the first to bring ESS technology to the local bunker craft sector and thus contribute to the reduction of emissions in the port of Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering port,” stated Mike Muller, head of Vitol Asia. “We shall continue to support Singapore’s aspirations, led by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, to be a leader in maritime decarbonization. We consider deployment of these two electric-hybrid bunker tankers to be an important step forward in Singapore’s decarbonization journey.”
V-Bunkers placed an order to build two of these vessels in 2021, with the second, Marine Dynamo, scheduled for supply in second quarter 2023. The electric-hybrid bunker tankers can be deployed for harbor operations inside Singapore.
The vessels have been constructed by Chinese shipbuilder Zhejiang Shenzhou Sunshine Heavy Industry Co. The BV-classed bunker tankers carry BV’s Electric-Hybrid notation and have state-of-the-art vitality storage techniques (ESS) expertise, incorporating lithium-ion batteries and a extremely automated energy administration system (PMS), to attain an estimated 10% discount in GHG emissions.
The design configuration allows the vessel’d auxiliary engines to function on the most optimum particular gas oil consumption (SFOC), whereas the ESS performs peak shaving throughout low energy consumption durations for utilization of saved vitality throughout excessive consumption durations. The ESS has recharging capabilities, and whereas onshore energy provide is at the moment unavailable, the bunker tankers are prepared for when charging infrastructure and services develop into accessible in Singapore.
BV’s Electric-Hybrid notation addresses the complexity of electric-hybrid system implementation, defining necessities for storage, energy distribution, management, and instrumentation, in addition to exams that have to be carried out to validate energy administration and important security concerns, corresponding to thermal runaway. Bureau Veritas is repeatedly working in the direction of the event of a standardised security framework for on-board batteries, which is essential because the trade explores varied choices to attain carbon-neutral delivery.
David Barrow, vice-president South Asia and Pacific, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, commented: “Bureau Veritas is committed to supporting the safe development and deployment of batteries within the maritime sector, and it is heartening to see the industry embrace sustainable solutions to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. V-Bunkers’ electric-hybrid bunker tankers are a positive step towards building a greener and more sustainable future for Singapore’s port operations.”
