The world’s first fleet of push boats with batteries and diesel-electric propulsion systems is being built in Brazil to provide low-carbon terminal services.
Belov Engenharia shipyard in Salvador, Brazil is building a fleet of push boats for South American logistics operator Hidrovias do Brasil.
The 20.4 m tugs will provide terminal assistance on the Amazon River system. With batteries to supplement diesel-electric propulsion, emissions will be reduced when manoeuvring the barges in sensitive environments.
Belov Engenharia Shipyard expects the first of these push boats to be delivered in 2022.
Built to Robert Allan’s RApide 2000-E design and DNV certification, they will have direct current grids and diesel-battery electric propulsion system, two diesel generators and two L-drives, each with an input power of 350 kW. With a moulded beam of 10 m and hull depth of 3.2 m, minimum operating draught will be 2.2 m and normal operating draught 2.5 m.
Initially energy storage capacity will be 600 kWh, but these battery packages could be scaled up to 1,800 kWh. Batteries will be engaged when these vessels are operating in lower power modes to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
