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MARINE WAVE


Advantages of Diesel-Electric Propulsion


The four Multi-Purpose Supply Vessels (the Atlantic Griffon, the Atlantic Shrike, the Atlantic Heron and the Paul A. Sacuta) constructed by Damen Shipyards / Halifax Shipyard for Atlantic Towing’s future operations at the Hebron location (a heavy oil field, located offshore Newfoundland & Labrador, estimated to produce more than 700 million barrels of recoverable resources) & existing Hibernia location are on schedule. Two of the vessels, the Atlantic Shrike and the Atlantic Griffon, were recently transported from Spain to the Halifax Shipyard for completion. The state-of- the-art vessels will be equipped with Diesel-Electric Power plants, designed and manufactured by Rolls-Royce, as opposed to a direct driven propulsion plant currently found on the rest of Atlantic Towing’s fleet.


On a diesel electric system, there are no ‘main engines’ but a series of generators that all feed into the vessel’s switchboards. From here, electrical power is distributed throughout the vessel as needed and local propulsion motors turn the electrical power into mechanical power.


The advantages of the new operating system are numerous and present a new opportunity for Atlantic Towing’s people. Benefits range from lower fuel costs and emissions, noise reduction and an increased payload due to the reduced space requirements on the vessel. The system can run safely and effectively even during the unlikely event that an engine malfunctions. The plant also proves itself with its reduced operational and maintenance costs and it provides efficient performance and high motor torques, as the electrical system can provide maximum torque at high and low speeds, which translates well in inclement weather and towing, for example.


Several of Atlantic Towing’s people recently had the opportunity to ‘test drive’ the diesel electric propulsion system when the company chartered two vessels, the Jones Tide and the Breaux Tide from Tidewater, a leading provider of Offshore Supply Vessels to the global energy industry, in support of Shell Canada’s drilling operations off the coast of Halifax.


David Doucet, Chief Engineer on the Atlantic Hawk, was excited to learn all about the diesel electric systems and was quick to say yes to work on the Breaux Tide.


“I knew this was going to be a challenge as these systems are very different compared to the conventional propulsion units found on out fleet,” says Doucet. “I agreed to the offer right away because it represented a new learning opportunity and the chance to acquire more experience as a Chief Engineer. This was the most efficient vessel I have worked on in terms of fuel efficiency and redundancy of the different components,” says Doucet. “I really liked the philosophy behind the system – it has been a great learning experience for me.”


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