Offshore staff
SOUTHAMPTON, UK – BMT says it has successfully commissioned its latest hybrid vessel for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Developed in collaboration with Penguin Shipyard International, the advanced hybrid-electric aluminum catamaran, christened MPA Guardian, is a 35-m patrol boat designed to conduct patrolling activities, search and rescue, oil spill response, drone operations and salvage support. It will also be used as the government’s test bed for new technologies and equipment.
With accommodation for up to 24 people, BMT says the vessel will be deployed in a command-and-control role during multivessel operations and as first responder in a wide variety of missions.
BMT says the vessel propulsion system is an advanced hybrid-electric system based on a combination of electric and diesel mechanical propulsion. To best fulfil its operating duty, the vessel can operate in different modes. In full-electric, zero-emission mode, MPA Guardian can cruise silently at 6 knots for up to three hours.
The vessel can also operate in a diesel-electric mode to achieve continuous medium speed operation. In this mode, power is drawn from one of the two main engines to propel both shafts while recharging the batteries. This mode offers a significant advantage by way of emissions reduction and reduced wear and tear on the engines.
In her conventional diesel mechanical mode, MPA Guardian can run at a top speed of close to 27 knots. In this mode, the electric generation capability offered by the hybrid system also removes the need for diesel generators sets onboard.
BMT says these features, combined with a highly efficient hull form optimized for minimal resistance across the entire operating speed range, give rise to a low-emission, future-proofed vessel that will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the Port of Singapore.
06.25.2022
