UK To Construct World’s 1st Electric CTV With Volvo Penta IPS Technology

Volvo Penta will offer a power solution for a path-breaking vessel dedicated to the UK’s offshore industry.

The firm will supply its Inboard Performance System for the world’s first-ever retrofitted, fully electric crew transfer vessel.

For this project, Volvo Penta will supply a 100% electric propulsion system in an existing vessel, replacing the old combustion engines with an emissions-free solution.

It is the most recent marine undertaking to harness the Volvo Penta IPS as part of a much-awaited transition to more advanced and sustainable boating.

It comes weeks after declaring comparable collaborations with Sanlorenzo Yachts and Northern Offshore Services.

The firm is delighted to be associated with a landmark project of this capacity, which will boast the first-ever Volvo Penta IPS powered totally by batteries and with no diesel generators onboard.

It is an ultra-efficient setup that is designed to deliver emissions-free and longer-range transfers.

There is also closer control as well as manoeuvrability, so the journeys are faster, safer, and more reliable.

Mehmet Belibagli, Marine Commercial’s Sales Manager at Volvo Penta (the UK), believes that this is the future for many segments in the marine industry and can inspire more projects.

The vessel is being developed for Tidal Transit, a crew transit and sea transport service operator.

The retrofit’s cost is approximately £8 million, of which £6.3 million will come from the Zero Emissions Vessel and Infrastructure program.

This program is part of the UK Government’s plan (via the Department of Transport and the Innovate UK innovation agency) to build, deploy, and operate unique and clean maritime solutions.

Cleaner and leaner retrofitting will be done on Ginny Louise, a diesel-powered 20 m Mercurio vessel.

The original propulsion system will be substituted with a Quad Installation of Volvo Penta IPS 30, coupled with electric motors and more than 2 MWh of onboard battery capacity.

The completed vessel will be titled e-Ginny, and being emissions-free, it will benefit from a range of additional advantages that IPS delivers.

This includes smooth movement and control, courtesy of the individually steerable and forward-facing drives with counter-rotating twin propellers.

It is an innovative design that delivers improved manoeuvrability and a seamless ride.

The switch to the Volvo Penta IPS will modify the helm station for the vessel operators and the captain.

These encompass Volvo Penta’s Joystick Control, giving you a better driving experience. It belongs to a helm-to-prop retrofit solution designed to offer improved performance in addition to enhanced driving.

The firm’s vision is to emerge as a world leader in the sustainable power solution industry.

Their aspiration to be selected for such a path-breaking project indicates their significant efforts toward their end goal.

The firm believes there are multiple paths to achieving net zero, and it must support its customers along whichever path they choose. It is also critical to remember the role of circularity and remanufacturing in achieving the targets.

Jan-Willem Vissers, the director of marine commercials at Volvo Penta, explained that it’s part of the business on which the firm is placing tremendous emphasis, and schemes such as e-Ginny are an incredible example of how it can be done.

The new charging infrastructure, which will include an onshore charging station and a wind turbine-based offshore charger, will be installed as part of the Tidal Transit project.

The Volvo Penta IPS platform will extensively improve the vessel’s range and time at work. Once completed, the E-CTV will support crew transfers at an offshore UK wind farm for three years.

Leo Hambro, the commercial director associated with Tidal Transit, mentioned that the transition to electric crew transfer vessels reportedly marks a massive step toward achieving a more sustainable and ecologically responsible offshore wind industry.

Electrification assignments like the e-Ginny retrofit offer incredible benefits on a national to international scale.

Alongside a significant reduction in the carbon footprint, the absence of combustion engines contributes enormously to reducing noise pollution, eradicates the risk associated with fuel spillages, and translates into relatively lower maintenance needs.

With offshore and onshore charging solutions, the vessels can stay on the water longer, cutting operational costs for the fleet operators. They are thrilled to collaborate with the Volvo Penta team for their specialization in electric propulsion systems.

With the firm’s other project partners, they are looking forward to continuing their mission to steer the broader offshore transport industry into a fresh zero-carbon era.

Reference: Volvo Penta

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