Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf has installed a new shore power installation. Developed by Elma Systems, the new system converts shore power to 60 Hz to cover all types of vessel that call at the yard.
As part of Damen Shipyards Group’s mission to become the most sustainable maritime solutions provider, the Amsterdam yard has provided shore power for many years. In this way, the yard provided low emissions energy to vessels undergoing work in its docks. It was, however, not a solution compatible with all vessels.
Commercial Manager Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf Jeen van der Werf explains: ‘Previously, we were able to provide shore power with 50 hertz. However, we get a lot of offshore, navy and fishing vessels come to the yard for work, and many of these vessels operate on 60 hertz.’
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Advancing maritime sustainability
As a result, he says, they often had to hire in a diesel powered generator, something the environmentally conscious yard was keen to avoid.
Van der Werf: ‘We’re always keen to play our part in advancing maritime sustainability so, when we heard about a 35 per cent temporary subsidy for sea goings vessels from the RVO (Dutch Enterprise Agency) for shore power installations, we were very happy to take part with an investment of our own.’
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Rotary converter
First, the yard needed to find a company that could think along with them to create the right solution; one that would cover all the diverse vessels the yard caters for, and which would be optimally reliable. It was at this point that Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf began discussions with Elma Systems. Together, the two companies set about the development of a solution in tune with the yard’s needs. Elma came up with a rotary converter which converts the shore power to the desired 60 Hz.
The shore power system of 355 A (Ampere), which is installed to the yard’s floating dock, can support up to 250 kVA. However, should more power be required, there is an option to add a battery or secondary power source. The rotary converter is therefore also equipped with a load sharing system.
With this new shore power system, Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf expects to see a reduction in carbon emission, making a significant contribution towards its sustainability ambitions.
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Competitive advantage
As an additional benefit, the wider use of shore power means that the yard no longer has to hire in costly diesel generators, and is, therefore, able to offer its clients a more competitively priced project.
Picture: Jeen van der Werf, Commercial Manager Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf (photo by Damen).
