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Diesel-Electric Power for Heavy Lift Conversions
01 Nov 2005
Two semi-submersible barges are being converted into self propelled heavy lift transport vessels for Fairmount Heavy Transport NV, an associated company of Rotterdam based towage contractor Fairmount Marine BV. When the conversions are completed in the second half of 2006, the Fairmount Fjord and Fairmount Fjell will be primarily employed in the transport of offshore equipment such as jack-up and semi-submersible drilling rigs. The cargo will be loaded and unloaded with the vessels ballasted down to a semi-submerged condition and floated off the vessels' large cargo decks.
Wartsila diesel electric propulsion plants of 11.5 MW have been ordered for these vessels. Each ship will receive three Wartsila diesel gensets, two Lips steerable thrusters and a Lips bow thruster. The propulsion plants were contracted from a consortium formed by Wartsila and Dutch electrical installation and bridge system specialists Imtech NV.
The consortium is responsible for the initial design of the power plant, the supply of the complete gensets, thrusters, all ancillary systems, electrical switchboards, and the integrated bridge system, including controls for the whole power plant.
As part of the comprehensive solution, Imtech will provide the navigation, automation and electrical propulsion system. The three 8 cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 32 diesel gensets each have a maximum continuous power output of 3,840kW at 720rpm. The sets will supply electrical power to two 4,500kW steerable thrusters with 3,400mm diameter fixed pitch propellers in high performance HR nozzles.
The 1,500kW bow thrusters will have a 2,250mm diameter controllable pitch propeller. The diesel electric propulsion plants will give the 164.3m and 146.3m LOA vessels service speeds of 12 knots. The choice of diesel electric propulsion plant gives freedom in the layout of the machinery, with the gensets located in a forward engine room distant from the main thrusters.
The diesel-electric plant also provides power for the large pumping capacity required during cargo handling operations. Steerable thrusters aft and the bow thrusters forward will give excellent manoeuvrability.
MJ Information No: 21212
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