PSA Marine Peru, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA Marine of Singapore, has contracted Cheoy Lee Shipyards (CLS) in Hong Kong for equipping one newly built tug with Schottel RudderPropellers featuring the patented Sydrive-M technology.
As a mechanical hybrid solution without the costly complexity of common hybrid technology, Sydrive-M is considered to offer lower maintenance costs and reduced fuel consumption. This will enable PSA Marine Peru to offer emission-reduced towing services in Peruvian ports. The RAmparts 2400W design vessel is scheduled to enter service in 2023.
William Revilla, Senior Fleet Manager, PSA Marine Peru, said: “In PSA Marine Peru, we are constantly on a lookout for sustainability-focused innovations. With reduced emissions, the forward-looking solution from Schottel allows us to operate our vessel more efficiently and sustainably. This also demonstrates our commitment to deliver only the best to our customers and stakeholders.”
The main propulsion of the ASD tug consists of two diesel-driven 2240kW SRP 460 RudderPropellers with 2.6m diameter fixed-pitch propellers. With this thruster configuration, the 24.4m x 11.25m tug will achieve about 70t bollard pull.
Beyond this, the rudder propellers feature the certified Schottel LeaCon sealing system, designed for safe and reliable protection against contamination of the seawater by operating materials.
Sydrive-M connects port and starboard mounted azimuth thrusters in one vessel, allowing the thrusters to be driven together by only one of the main engines. In turn, this leads to reduced operating hours of the main engines, resulting in lower maintenance costs as well as reductions in both fuel consumption and emissions. The system needs no additional electronical components, and features three main operation modes: Light Operation or Free Sailing Mode, Full Thrust Operation Mode and FiFi-Mode.
CLS and Schottel are linked by a long-standing partnership. Around 100 vessels equipped with propulsion systems from the German company have been built at CLS in the past 10 years. Its main production facility is located in southern China. The 12ha Hin Lee (Zhuhai) Shipyard plant includes a 1,000t railway lift, 150t Travelift, dedicated fabrication halls for steel, aluminium and fibreglass moulding, trade specific workshops and onsite dormitories to house up to 1,000 employees.
