In view of continually rising fuel costs, one of the goals of Voith Turbo Marine was to optimise the efficiency of the propeller. For operators, this improved efficiency, as well as a ship's outline optimised on the basis of hydrodynamic aspects, means reduced fuel costs and therefore more environmentally friendly ferry operation.

With the help of the numerical fluid mechanics, also called CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), Voith Turbo Marine improved the hull lines. The flow dynamics under consideration of the free surface of the hydrodynamically optimised ship's contours were calculated precisely.

These results of the computer simulation were fully verified by the Norwegian model test institute MARINTEK and by the sea trials of the Julsund.

The optimisation of the hull was carried out at the Norwegian Standard Ferry 2003. At the same time, Voith Turbo Marine also developed a new propeller type.

For this ferry type, the new propeller size 18 (blade radius 1.8m) has been used. Compared to the previous model, this propeller increases the power by 56% to 780 kW.

The first ferry equipped with two propellers and in operation since 2005 is the Norwegian ferry Julsund of Fjord 1, which is distinguished by good course stability and manouvrability.

The customer also attached maximum importance to adequate service and investment cost.

Voith Turbo Marine was able to meet these demands not only by optimisations and new developments, but also by the efficient utilisation of modern motor management. The latter is made possible by the adaptation characteristics of the Voith Schneider ®Propellers (VSP).

The front and rear VSP are each connected with two motors via belt drives.

By automatic adaptation to the pitch it is possible to operate the double-ended ferry with one motor only in order to achieve its service speed. As a result, maintenance work can be carried out at the motor currently at standstill, which, in turn, extends the service intervals between maintenance routines and also the service life of the motors themselves.

MJ Information No: 21719