Scotline coaster to trial hybrid power

摘要

Short-sea shipping operator Scotline Marine has ordered a new coaster from Royal Bodewes in the Netherlands - the group's fourth vessel from this shipbuilder to date. Scotline had originally ordered a trio of 4800 DWAT Bodewes Trader-class coasters, starting with Scot Carrier and Scot Explorer (both launched in 2019) and completed by Scot Ranger, due for launch in November this year (see Ship & Boat International September/October 2019, pages 46-47).The fourth vessel, Scot Isles, will be launched in Q3 2021. Like its three sisters, it will measure 89.98m × 15.2m and draw 5.68m; however, it will be the first Scotline coaster to incorporate a hybrid powertrain.Jon Millat, Scotline commercial manager, tells Ship & Boat International: "We're initially installing 80kWh worth of Victron batteries, which is equivalent to a few hours without the main generator." Scot Isles will serve as a demonstrator of how this technology works in the field, before the operator investigates the possibility of scaling the size of a battery pack to run a coaster "entirely without the main generator" in the future, he says.Millat adds: "At this stage, we'll be keeping the main generator for safety reasons whilst proving this new system but, when the batteries are operational, the main generator won't be consuming diesel or producing any emissions." Scot Isles' main engine output will come to 1,850kW.