Fuel-efficient inland ship design unveiled
Mercurius’ design for a clean cargo ship able to navigate extensively through the European waterways features a high cargo capacity in compact dimensions
Swedish engine company Volvo Penta reports that a new inland waterway cargo ship concept, based on its high speed engines, has recently been launched in The Netherlands.
The Mercurius Shipping Group, located in Zwijndrecht, has named the design ‘M-factor’. The ship is 85m in length, 9.6m wide, 2.8m maximum draught, and has a load capacity of 1,500 tonnes. The company says this represents a ship which by present-day standards is small in external dimensions, but has an “exceptional big cargo hold”.
Its small size and limited height enable it to sail in almost all European inland waterways. The main focus of the development was to be able to navigate smaller channels, which led to the choice of the 750 bhp Volvo Penta D16, which is said to be smaller than the normal choice for a ship of this capacity, which would normally be equipped with at least 1.000 bhp.
The shipyard required an engine which would operate in a fuel efficient manner at part load, because it is anticipated that the M-factor will spend at least 80%-90% of its operating hours at low engine load. Volvo Penta says that its D16, producing 750 bhp at 1,900 rpm, is particularly suitable for such operational cycles.
Low emissions forms another important consideration for newly-built inland waterway vessels, with pressure to produce even lower exhaust emissions than demanded under current legislation. To this end, the ship will be equipped with the STT Emtec SCR and POC system. The SCR system cuts NOx emissions by some 70% to 90%, while the POC filter reduces emissions of particulate matter (PM) by another 40%.
As well as the D16-750 main propulsion engine, which drives through a Twin Disk TD-5170 gearbox, Mercurius Shipping has specified theVolvo Penta D12 engine, rated at400 bhp at 1,800 rpm, to drive the bow thruster. The thruster will be delivered as a complete package including engine from local manufacturer Verhaar.
The prototype ship is being built at Mercurius Shipping’s yard in Begej and is scheduled for launch in May 2011. The company plans to build four to six ships yearly, depending on the success of the first. An order for the propulsion and thruster engines for the second ship has already been placed with the Volvo Penta Center Terlouw in Rotterdam.
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