Hybrid upgrade decreases Tidewater PSV’s carbon footprint

Under the contract, Kongsberg will deliver and install a hybrid power solution including K-Pos dynamic positioning, K-Chief 700 integrated automation system and advanced generator supervisor upgrades. Improved energy efficiency, optimised power management and enhanced vessel positioning manoeuvring are among the goals of the upgrade. With the implementation of IMO’s 0.50% global sulphur cap less than four months away, the hybrid solution will make the vessel more attractive to charterers.

“Kongsberg’s comprehensive hybrid upgrade positions us as a pioneer in the OSV sector,” said Tidewater Marine chief operating officer Jeff Gorski, “in helping our clients to meet strict environmental regulations, due to be introduced in 2020, for decreasing CO₂, NO_x and SO_x emissions. It manifests our leadership approach towards reducing the carbon footprint on the global maritime map.”

Based on an MMC-887 design and flying the Vanuatu flag, the dynamic positioning class 2 Bailey Tide has an overall length of 87.1 m, beam of 18.8 m, depth of 7.4 m and maximum draught of 6.1 m, with a clear deck area of 930 m². Its diesel-electric propulsion system incorporates four 1,820-kW primary generator sets each driven by a Cummins QSK60-D(M) engine. Bailey Tide has two Rolls-Royce Z-drives and two bow thrusters.

The hybrid solution will also reduce operational costs by cutting the vessel’s fuel consumption and improve onboard safety.

The hybrid upgrade will be accompanied with the installation of a Kongsberg Information Management System (K-IMS), an interactive and collaborative web-based platform which will give Tidewater Marine and its sub-suppliers continuous data access, both on board and on shore. Work on Bailey Tide’s upgrade has already started and is expected to be completed before May 2020. The vessel was at anchor at Limassol, Cyprus on 13 September, according to ship tracker service MarineTraffic.

Kongsberg Maritime Singapore sales manager Deepak Thomas, noted, “Our AGS software functionality has also proved its worth across the Tidewater fleet in mitigating blackouts and increasing the reliability and safety of the power management system, and we’re keen to assist the company in progressing ever further in the pursuit of environmentally-responsible, cost-effective energy efficiency.”