Italian shipping company Liberty Lines has launched what is believed to be the world’s first hybrid fast ferry of its type in Trapani, Sicily, powered by an mtu hybrid propulsion system from Rolls-Royce.
The 39.5m ship has a capacity of 251 passengers, reaches a speed of over 30 knots and is expected to significantly reduce the impact of ship operations on the environment. The Vittorio Morace, named after the founder of the company, was built by the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon to a design by Incat Crowther. The ship is built in accordance with the IMO HSC (High-Speed Craft) code and is classified as ‘Green Plus’ by Italian classification society RINA.
This is the first of a series of nine hybrid ferries that will operate between Sicily and the neighbouring Aeolian and Egadi islands as well as between the Italian mainland, Croatia and Slovenia.
The battery-electric part of the drive is used for locally emission-free operation in the harbour area and as a booster. The mtu Series 4000 diesel engines can run on renewable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel, which can lower the CO2 footprint by up to 90%. Furthermore, the comparatively low overall weight of both the engines and the hybrid drive system contributes to high vessel propulsion efficiency, further reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Gennaro Carlo Cotella, CEO Liberty Lines, said: “We chose mtu hybrid systems because we want to minimise the environmental impact of our new fleet while not compromising on the high speed and range of our vessels. As we have trusted mtu products for decades, we have also opted for this partnership for our major fleet renewal.”
Denise Kurtulus, VP Global Marine. Rolls-Royce Power Systems added: “Liberty Lines is the ideal partner to demonstrate the progress that can be made towards environmentally and climate-friendly ship operation: We have used all possibilities and combined highly efficient combustion engines with exhaust gas aftertreatment, batteries and electric motors with an intelligent electronic control system to create an emission-optimised system. Together with Liberty Lines, Armon and Incat Crowther, we have developed a passenger ferry that will set new standards in this category of shipbuilding. We are proud of this. Our goal is to help this technology achieve a breakthrough.”
All components are coordinated by the mtu NautIQ Blue Vision NG control and monitoring system. The complete propulsion systems of the first two ships will be monitored by the mtu NautIQ Foresight equipment health monitoring system. It collects data on the technical condition and analyses and stores it in order to improve the operational availability of the ship, reduce maintenance costs and lower fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions.
When entering and leaving the port areas, the batteries ensure silent and emission-free manoeuvring. They supply power to all the ship’s electrical equipment and the bow thrusters. When the ship leaves the harbour and increases speed, the mtu combustion engines are used. They drive the propellers directly, enabling the ship to travel at speeds of up to 30 knots. At the same time, they drive the hybrid electric motors via the gearboxes to charge the batteries and supply the electrical consumers on board without having to operate gensets. The generators on board are available as a backup. When the ship is in harbour, the batteries are used for the entire electrical supply on board during shorter stopovers, also silently and emission-free without power generators. During longer stopovers, shore power can be connected to recharge the batteries.
The two combustion engines are mtu type 16V4000 M65L, rated at 2560kW at 1800 rpm, and which are fitted with mtu SCR exhaust after-treatment systems for IMO Tier III and US EPA Tier 4 emission compliance. They drive FP propellers through Reintjes WVSA-1542 hybrid-capable gearboxes with clutchable PTO/PTIs for interfacing with the electric machines. These are two Danfoss Editron EM-PMI375 T1100-2900 permanent magnet E-Machines. Providing in this case about 130 kW each of propulsion power, and when in charging mode motors rated up to about 260kW each. Using variable speed electric motors allows the use of simple fixed pitch propellers. In addition there are two 100kWe variable-speed gensets, operating from 1000 – 2400 rpm, with lightweight PM generators. Three 11 EST Green Orca 1050 Battery Packs (346 kWh total installed) are fitted, along with DC power converters, circuit breakers, filters and protection equipment. An mtu NautIQ Blue Vision NG Hybrid system controls and monitors the complete Hybrid Propulsion system, as well as the main ship systems such as tanks, bilge alarms, and gensets.
Image: Liberty Lines’ ‘Vittorio Morace’ hybrid fast ferry (source: Rolls-Royce)
