Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf is strengthening its commitment to green ship repair, maintenance, conversion and refit projects with a recent shore power installation. The yard had already installed a shore power unit which was suited to many of its projects. However, with this latest installation, developed by Elma Systems, the availability of clean onshore power, converted to 60Hz, has been widened to cover all types of vessel that call at the yard.
Commercial manager Jeen van der Werf explains: “Previously, we were able to provide shore power at 50Hz. However, we get a lot of offshore, navy and fishing vessels come to the yard for work, and many of these vessels operate on 60Hz.” As a result, he says, the yard often had to hire in a diesel-powered generator; something the company was keen to avoid.
Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf began discussions with Elma Systems to address this issue. Together, the two companies set about the development of a solution that was more in tune with the yard’s needs, and Elma came up with a rotary convertor, which converts the shore power to the desired 60Hz rating.
The shore power system, which is installed on the yard’s floating dock, can support up to 250kVA. Should more power be required, there is an option to add a battery or secondary power source. The Elma-designed rotary converter is therefore also equipped with a load sharing system.
With this new shore power system now fully operational, Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf expects to significantly reduce its carbon emissions. As an additional benefit, the wider use of shore power means that the yard no longer has to hire in costly diesel generators, and is, therefore, able to offer its clients a more competitively priced project.
