A large European port has emphasised its sustainability and safety ambitions with the recent order of a pair of hybrid harbour patrol vessels.
Kooiman Marine Group has obtained a contract from the Port of Antwerp to design and build the two hybrid powered aluminium patrol vessels. The innovative vessels were developed by Kooiman Engineering and will be built by Scheepswerf Gebr. Kooiman, both from Zwijndrecht.
The vessel dimensions are LOA 25.0 m, beam 5.4 m, moulded depth 3.1m and draught 1.36m. The vessel can achieve maximum speeds of 35km/h using diesel propulsion and 22km/h under hybrid power.
The vessels will be equipped with a battery package enabling them to sail for 2.5 hours at 9km/h exclusively on electric power. The vessels also have two other power modes; full diesel propulsion or hybrid propulsion. A unique system that results in lower fuel consumption and minimal CO2 emissions. The diesel particulate filter and integrated exhaust gas treatment system also ensure that fewer harmful substances (SOx/NOx) are released. Delivery is planned for autumn 2020.
According to the information released by Kooiman, the vessels are an ongoing development of an earlier patrol vessel that Kooiman Marine Group designed, built and delivered. Looking at the renders of the vessel supplied by Kooiman, it appears to be using a Hull Vane aft, and therefore shows distinct parallels with the very successful ‘RPA1’, built for the Port of Rotterdam, and also designed from the outset with a Hull Vane to reduce squat and stern wave resistance.
By Jake Frith
