Inland cargo vessel gets the ‘M-factor’

The vessel is powered by Volvo Penta marine diesel engines both for propulsion and bowthruster. It measures 85m long, 9.6m wide, and has a load capacity of 1,500 tons. It is not a large ship but has an exceptionally large cargo hold.

Due to its size and limited height, it can sail in almost all European inland waterways. Since it has been developed primarily to visit smaller channels and rivers, it will use the Volvo Penta D16 rated at 750hp as its propulsion engine, This is unusual for this size of ship, which would normally be equipped with at least 1,000hp.

The yard searched for the most fuel efficient engine at part load, as in this application of cyclic operation the engine will run at part load for at least 80% to 90% of the time.

To make the ship even cleaner with regard to emissions, the engine will be equipped with the STT Emtec SCR and POC system as a standard, even though the technology is not yet required by legislation. The SCR system reduces the NOx emission by a further 70% to 90% and the POC filter reduces the particulate matter by another 40%.

The prototype will be built at Mercurius Shipping’s own yard in Begej and will be ready in May 2011. The plans are to build at least four to six ships yearly, depending on the success of this model.

The contract for the second ship has already been given to the Volvo Penta Centre Terlouw in Rotterdam which will deliver the main 750hp D16 propulsion engine, Twin Disc gearbox of model TD-5170 and the SCR system as a complete package for the Mercurius Shipping Group.

In addition to the Volvo Penta D16, a Volvo Penta D12-400 will be installed as a thruster engine. The thruster will be delivered as a complete package, including the engine, from the local OEM Verhaar thruster systems.