Feature 2 | PATROL AND RESCUE BOATS Electric investigator


Estonia’s Border Guard has an extremely versatile tool at its disposal in the shape of the locally built Raju, writes David Tinsley


ZF gearboxes for higher speeds, while Volvo Penta D11-driven generators feed the propulsion motors and charge the battery installation. The vessel is equipped with a


Raju provides three propulsive power options, enabling her to cover a wide operating brief


E


stonian shipbuilder Baltic Workboats raised its game in 2018 through the completion of its largest patrol boat


to date, technically distinguished by hybrid propulsion and multifunctional capabilities. Te 45m Raju is equipped to undertake


tasks related to offshore patrol, search and rescue (SAR), surveillance, anti-smuggling, firefighting, oil spill response, emergency evacuation and buoy handling for Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board. Giving first form to the yard’s Patrol 45 WP Hybrid type, the design employs all-aluminium construction and a double-chine hull with a wave-piercing, high-speed bow form. The vessel has been engineered to


provide three propulsive power options – namely diesel, diesel-electric or fully-electric – and the overall solution has been shaped in mind of operational needs, efficiency goals and tightening emission controls in the Baltic. The newbuild contract commanded a price of €16 million (US$18.2 million), with grant support awarded under the EU’s Cohesion Fund, supplemented by a contribution from the Estonian state. In addition to national security and


policing considerations, the project was driven by the need to better ensure protection of coastal waters against the environmental risks presented


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by the growing volume of oil traffic in the Gulf of Finland. One of Raju’s fundamental roles will be to monitor and respond to pollution threats, using state-of-the-art radar that can detect surface contamination from up to five miles away.


ESS capacity Hybrid technology was deemed especially suited to the vessel’s varied responsibilities and operating profile. The powering combination provides for a maximum and rapidly attainable speed of 27knots, or an economic cruising speed of 10-12knots – or even for very low-speed deployments. Two MTU Series 4000 engines in


16-cylinder V-format, delivering 2,000kW apiece, provide the diesel power through


TECHNICAL PARTICULARS Raju


Length, oa ....................................................44.6m Breadth ........................................................... 8.8m Draught .......................................................... 2.6m Displacement .......................................235tonnes Engine power ....................................2 × 2,000kW Service speed .....................................10-12knots Max speed .................................................27knots Range ......................................3,000nm@10knots Classification society ................. Lloyd’s Register


fully integrated electrical power and containerised energy storage system (ESS) using lithium polymer batteries supplied by Dutch manufacturer EST-Floattech. Te ESS capacity is 273kWh, comprising 26 Green Orca 1050 batteries, housed in a 10ſt container on deck. Te arrangements offer the option to run


the vessel in full electrical mode at speeds up to 12knots, with reduced sound and heat signature, as well as increased efficiency. Battery-only powering affords about 25nm of near-silent, slow-speed propulsion. Efficient, quiet cruising and swift,


powerful responsiveness are provided by the Danfoss Editron hybrid electric drivetrain system, incorporating permanent magnet machines. Half the size of a comparable, conventional diesel-electric plant, the Editron solution is designed to marry compactness and light weight with a high level of operational flexibility and reduced CO2 and pollutant emissions.


Fuel efficiency The redundancy benefit imparted by hybrid electric power holds particular value for the Estonian Border Guard. In the event of engine failure, a switch can be made to diesel-electric or battery power. Moreover, the overall solution promises improved fuel efficiency, and the much lower noise levels in diesel- electric / fully-electric modes, compared to diesel-mechanical drive, improve crew habitability. Low noise and vibration also gives the ability to run in ‘stealth’ mode while carrying out surveillance or anti-smuggling operations. Te vessel features a complete sterngear


package, designed and manufactured in Southampton, UK by CJR Propulsion, which includes: 1.8m-diameter, five-bladed propellers; 9.5m-long,


Ship & Boat International January/February 2019


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