IPS power for Russian pilot boats
Six new IPS-powered Rosmorport pilot vessels for Russian service
Volvo Penta´s Inboard Performace System (IPS) drives, claimed to increase performance and reduce fuel consumption, have been chosen to power six 14m pilot vessels ordered by Russian state owned company Rosmorport.
Volvo Penta says that IPS, with forward facing propellers and steerable drive units, delivers improved performance, reduced fuel consumption and increased onboard comfort compared to traditional shaft installations. From its roots in the leisure boating industry, IPS has been taken up for commercial applications, including the Swedish Coast Guard which has decided to go for IPS in a new type of sea rescue vessel. The company says there are similar commercial projects ongoing in many countries.
Rosmorport has decided to equip its six new pilot boats with IPS instead of traditional shafts. The semi-planing pilot boats will be equipped with twin IPS450 packages with slow propellers providing maximum speed of 22 knots. The delivery package includes Dynamic Positioning system, trip computer, cruise control and low speed mode.
The aluminium-hulled pilot boats are designed by MT-Shipbuilding and will be built by Moscow Shipbuilding & Shiprepair yard. The majority of the boats will be located in Azov and Black Sea area of Russia providing pilot service in river deltas.
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2012. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
