WORKBOATSPhoto: GondanGondan’s Hybrid Icebreaker TugGONDAN Shipyard recently launched Vilja, a ship-assist, coastal towing, ? re-? ghting and naviga- energy storage. This con? guration will provide new hybrid-powered icebreaking escort tug de- tion aids service duties. operational ? exibility that will produce signi? cant signed by Robert Allan Ltd. for Port of Luleå, Swe- This 36-m tug with a hull structure that exceeds fuel, emissions and maintenance savings. den. Vilja is a RAL TundRA 3600-H class icebreak- Finnish-Swedish ice class rules and has high envi- With an expected bollard pull of about 100 tons ing design, customized for the for the Swedish port ronmental standards is classed by Lloyd’s Register in diesel-mechanical mode when including battery and designed to perform icebreaking of up to one and is equipped with an innovative hybrid propul- boost capacity, this tug reportedly will be the most meter of ice at a speed of up to 3 knots. In addition, sion system that will include two diesel main en- powerful icebreaking escort tug of this size in the it is designed to provide ice management, escort, gines, shaft generators/motors and batteries for world with hybrid/electrical propulsion.Blount Boats to Build BMT: Water Taxi DesignsBMT introduced new vessel designs Twin-Screw Tugin response to a tender issued by Hong Blount Boats has signed a contract Kong’s Transport Department. The new with the New York Power Authority hybrid Eco Ferry and a smaller, nimble (NYPA), the nation’s largest state power 14 passenger harbor craft have been de-organization, to construct an ice break-signed for on-demand and ad-hoc trips, ing, all-welded-steel, diesel-powered, both of which could enable passengers double screw tugboat to operate in sea-to experience faster, smoother, and sonal ice near the entrance to and within more fuel-ef? cient transits across Hong the upper Niagara River. This vessel will Kong’s Victoria Harbor.replace existing vessels in the NYPA One example, the new hybrid Eco ? eet currently used for the installation, Ferry vessel design, is a low cost and removal, and maintenance of the Lake sustainable 31m, 20-knot design, that Erie Ice Boom and various associated has been proposed by BMT to serve tra-marine construction projects. The naval ditional routes with typically higher pas-architectural and marine engineering senger peak ? ows. ? rm, Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. devel-The second design is a small-scale but oped the contract design and will provide highly ? exible craft, styled in a manner technical oversight during the fabrica-re? ecting the city’s Star Ferry that is tion process on behalf of NYPA. The 56 geared toward commuter ? exibility and foot long, 18.5 foot beam, shallow draft tourist experience, as well as support-tug will be powered by two Caterpillar ing increased connectivity and linkage series C-9 engines, each 375HP@1800 around the harbor’s edge.RPM. Photo: BMT96 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2018MR #11 (90-97).indd 96 MR #11 (90-97).indd 96 11/6/2018 10:10:03 AM11/6/2018 10:10:03 AM