A new hybrid RoPax-ferry has been delivered to Koninklijke N.V. Texels Eigen Stoomboot Onderneming (Royal TESO).
The Texelstroom ferry is powered by efficient, medium speed dual fuel engines of Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC).
It will be responsible for transporting up to 1,750 passengers and 350 vehicles between the port of Den Helder and the island of Texel.
Cees de Waal, Director of TESO, said: "With Texelstroom, TESO wanted to achieve its ambition where environmental benefits, cost control and quality improvement go together. The ship embodies the latest technologies for reducing emissions.”
“This next-generation ferry will sail our passengers in a comfortable and efficient way across the Marsdiep. With regards to the propulsion, it was very important to choose environmentally friendly and reliable engines."
Anglo Belgian Corporation supplied the four main engines, including two dual fuel (CNG + diesel) generator sets that provide 2 MW each at 1000 rpm and two extra diesel generator.
A mixture of air and gas is injected into the cylinders of the dual fuel engines, this is then compress and a small pilot injection of diesel ensures the ignition.
Natural gas (CNG) is more environmentally friendly and less sulphur dioxide is released during the combustion.
The ignition makes it possible to work with different gases of low calorific value and fluctuating ignition quality. In addition, the operator has the ability, through rapid fuel conversion, to sail either on natural gas or diesel.
Jean-Pierre Props, area sales manager at ABC, said, "We want to thank Royal TESO for their confidence in our engines and wish them all the best in the continued operation of the ferry service between Texel and Den Helder."
The 135.40m long ferry will generally sail using its dual fuel engines every hour between 6 am and 10 pm. These dual fuel engines were fitted to have sufficient power in this tidal region for crossing between the mainland and the largest Dutch Wadden Sea Island Texel.
In standard weather conditions, Texelstroom will use only one dual fuel generating set during the majority of the crossing wherein the engine cooperates with the battery packs on board.
In cases of urgency, the hybrid ferry will have to make the crossing from Texel to the mainland at lightning speed and therefore two back-up diesel generating sets have also been provided.
In addition to the two storage tanks for the compressed natural gas, a 700 m² solar photovoltaic panel field is also installed on the roof of the ferry.
The energy is hereby stored in electric batteries with high capacity that are part of the advanced energy management system. This energy can then be used at peak times for the propulsion or electricity consumption on board of the ferry.
By Alice Mason
