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ATLANTIC TOWING


“What was really interesting was to see the actual space needed for the power distribution components, converters and drives located in the switchboard, compartment and in the thrusters. The space required is very small in comparison to the older systems.”


Jeff Batten, Captain of the Atlantic Osprey who served as Captain of the Jones Tide, was impressed by the productivity of the system, including its fuel efficiency and reduction in emissions.


“On traditional vessels, you can expect to consume 12-20 cubic metres of fuel in a 24-hour period,” says Batten. “The Jones Tide used an average of 6 cubic metres, and while the vessel had less horse power, the numbers still reflect a significant reduction in consumption and emissions.


“Diesel-electric propulsion systems allow the ship to have better control of its power-plant,’ adds Sami Uotinen, Area Sales Manager, Propulsion, Commercial Marine with Rolls-Royce. “The required propulsion power at any given time is processed in the load management system and therefore the demand and supply of energy are matched to great accuracy. This results in direct fuel savings, making these vessels very efficient and green. Maintenance can be better-planned since the main engines are running a lot closer to their intended RPMs and operational profiles.”


The PMS (Power Management System) is very efficient on diesel electric,” adds Batten. “If more electricity is required, the system


automatically switches to another engine. On a traditional system, this engine switch could take 20 minutes and requires manpower, whereas this conversion happens automatically on the new system. Essentially the unit identifies and responds to power requests, and when power is no longer needed, engines switch off on their own. This represents not only a reduction in manpower and time required to convert from one system to another, but it also represents a reduction in human error.”


The Jones Tide completed its operations in May, while the Breaux Tide completed in mid-November; aligning with the upcoming [expected] conclusion of Shell’s chartered Stena IceMax drill ship in December at the Monterey Jack drill site, 150 nautical miles off the coast of Halifax.


The introduction of the new vessels into Atlantic Towing’s fleet will be an exciting time for the company. It will also represent a steep learning curve for the vessels’ crew. Marine Engineers will be completing a five-day day technical course in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia through Kongsberg, a Marine technology company that offers maritime simulation and training, prior to leaving for Romania for additional learning. Captains completed simulator training at the Marine Institute at the end of November, a five-day operator’s course and two-day reference course at Kongsberg in Dartmouth. They then traveled to Romania to receive additional training, including crane operations.


The retractable thruster is an auxiliary unit which is used for dynamic positioning or slow speed maneuvering when the vessel is at work. It is lifted inside the hull (bow of the vessel) when not in use.


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