Turkish shipyards are the first to produce battery-powered ships that can operate with zero emissions, leading the field.
In the decarbonization movement initiated by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry with the Green Transformation Awards, the world’s first electric tug, GİSAŞ POWER, was produced in 2022, and Sanmar Shipyards then started the construction of two electric harbor tugs for SAAM Towage. The environmentally friendly zero-emission production movement that started in Turkish shipyards also attracted the attention of the maritime world.
The first step is from Vallianz Holdings
Vallianz Holdings is building electric-powered ships to handle ships in ports as part of its growing decarbonisation programme. The first of these projects is an electric-powered harbor tug designed by SeaTech Solutions, which will be produced at an Indonesian shipyard to serve ships.
According to Vallianz head of engineering Wu Sheng Wei, the project is moving towards the construction phase and will take two years to complete. A 2,200 kWh battery will be required on the ship, including a fixed and portable system, and a direct current network and charging system will be installed. “On small tugboats, DC grids are easier and switching from AC to DC can be challenging,” Wei said. said.
This tug will be zero-emission by operating entirely on electricity during shipyard and port operations. However, there will be a 100 kW generator set as a backup for long-distance transits and emergencies.
300 more environmentally friendly ships are planned
Worldwide, there are approximately 300 battery-powered ships in operation or on order, half of which are involved in offshore and port operations. “This technology is attracting interest from shipowners, with more ships coming online by 2025 and 2026, this movement is growing,” Wei said. said.
On the other hand, the installation of an energy storage system increases the construction costs of the tug. Wu Sheng Wei said, “Batteries are expensive. Even though prices have dropped, it is still considered expensive.” said. He also noted that there are concerns about battery safety, lifespan and recycling of old energy storage systems. Wei said these concerns could be overcome by using swappable battery containers while ships are in port.
Emissions could be reduced by 20-30 percent with electric ships
If these concerns are overcome, Wu Sheng Wei expects operational and environmental benefits to emerge: “Hybrid drive batteries provide 20-30 percent savings in terms of fuel consumption and emissions reduction.” said. “This will improve companies’ operating performance and reduce maintenance costs.”
Other advantages provided by the use of batteries in port and towage operations include the reduction of underwater noise, vibrations on the ship and engine room maintenance. (Haberdenizi.com)
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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