Ship & Boat International eNews: May/June 2021
Penguin International has completed what it claims to be the first hybrid boat built and operated in Singapore. The 15m x 5m aluminium vessel, Penguin Tenaga, has the capacity to carry two crew and 12 pilots, and will join a fleet of Penguin workboats supporting Shell’s oil refinery and petrochemicals hub on the island of Pulau Bukom.
Penguin comments: “Currently, there are limited applications for pure-electric vessels in Singapore due to the lack of charging infrastructure. However, that could change in coming years as the country electrifies its maritime eco-system.”
The boat’s electric-hybrid propulsion system, supplied by Sea Forrest Power Solutions, permits the operator to switch between pure-diesel, hybrid and pure-electric modes. Danfoss Editron provided the vessel’s electric motors and inverters, which are fed by 42.6kWh of lithium ion batteries. The gearbox, shafts and propellers were supplied by ZF Asia Pacific.
In pure-electric mode, Penguin Tenaga can operate at 5knots for more than 30 minutes, while, in pure-diesel mode, the boat can reach a top speed of 24knots. Solar panels affixed to the boat’s roof capture the electrical energy required to meet onboard hotel requirements, including the recharging of mobile devices.
According to reports, Danfoss Editron has calculated that Penguin Tenaga could reduce emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional diesel-powered pilot boats. The vessel has consequently been awarded zero-emission (ZE) notation by classification society Bureau Veritas.
