GDR funding for hybrid drive and WASP

Reederei Bernd Sibum has received funding from the German government to equip 4 coasters with hybrid propulsion and Econowind Ventofoils.

The four Damen Combi Freighters (CF) 3850 are already being build at Damen Yichang Shipyard in China and will be upgraded to sail with significantly lower emissions. The CF 3850 is a next generation design offering a considerable boost in efficiency, with a 30% reduction in fuel consumption. The design includes the capability to sail 100% on biofuel, as well as with batteries for peak shaving and port operations. They were also being prepared hybrid ready.

The funding, known as NaMKü (Nachhaltige Modernisierung von Küstenschiffen (sustainable modernisation of coastal ships), is awarded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) with the aim of improving the efficiency and environmental footprint of short sea shipping. It requires co-investment on behalf of the vessel owner.

With the NaMKü award, the vessels get several upgrades:

• Zero emissions in port: the option to sail on hybrid propulsion, with a PTO/PTI system. This upgrade provides the option of fully electric propulsion. This is not only an environmentally friendly technology, but also adds to safety, as it provides the ships with redundancy for the diesel propulsion engine.
• Econowind VentoFoils: this wind assisted ship propulsion solution is operated fully automatically to the prevailing wind conditions using intelligent technology. This system is expected to lower the vessels’ fuel consumption in the region of 12.5% over the year, facilitating a significant reduction in emissions.
• A heat recovery system, using heat from auxiliary engines that would otherwise be wasted, thereby eliminating gasoil consumption of the oil fired boiler while the vessel is in port.

Source: Damen Shipyards press release

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