UK-based Tees White Gill (TWG) will supply two vertical shaft thrusters for two new oceanographic research ships for the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Speaking to Marine Propulsion at the recent International Workboat Show in New Orleans, Tees White Gill technical manager Adam Robson said the contract was secured from Louisiana-based Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, which is building the two AGOR variant ships for the NOAA. Thoma-Sea won the shipbuilding contract, valued at US$178.1M, from the US Navy in December 2020.
Under a four-year contract, TWG will fabricate and machine the 10-tonne, 3.4-m tall thrusters’ main components inhouse, performing assembling, testing and commissioning.
Operating as a slow-speed propulsion system, the 50T3S QR thrusters provide precise manoeuvring and positioning. Mr Robson noted the 700-kW thrusters offer several advantages.
“These are 360° azimuth thrusters, not just standard tunnel thrusters,” he said. “The units are completely enclosed within the hullform, so there are no protruding parts and no risk of grounding or damage to any cables that are in the water.” Additionally, Tees White Gill offers a quiet rotor design which is a redeveloped impeller design to reduce underwater noise.
The new ships, named Oceanographer and Discoverer respectively, will support a wide variety of missions, ranging from general oceanographic research and exploration to marine life, climate and ocean ecosystem studies. These missions include shallow coastal, continental shelf, and worldwide ocean survey and data collection.
The contract from Thoma-Sea follows Tees Gill White’s supply of four 60T3S QR vertical shaft thrusters for the Polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, which recently docked in Antartica on its maiden voyage.
Meanwhile, Oceanographer and Discoverer will be built to commercial standards, incorporating high-efficiency, EPA Tier 4-compliant diesel engines, emissions controls for stack gases, new information technology tools for monitoring shipboard systems, and underwater scientific research and survey equipment.
Siemens Energy will supply power, propulsion, and control systems and its battery storage technology for two the research vessels.
Both ships will be equipped with SiSHIP Blue Drive PlusC advanced diesel-electric propulsion systems and BlueVault battery storage solutions. The combination of technologies will enable additional fuel savings and emissions reductions by allowing NOAA to optimise loading on variable speed diesel engines. It will also reduce maintenance associated with the engines.
Designed by New Orleans-based TAI, the oceanographic vessels will enter operation in 2024 and 2025.
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