The Rhenus Group introduced it has upgraded two canal push boats operated by Deutsche Binnenreederei (DBR) with new stage V engines.
Whereas the brand new building of extra sustainable hydrogen-powered vessels is a long-term mission, the Rhenus Group is retrofitting its older vessels with trendy and subsequently extra environmentally-friendly know-how within the quick time period. The 2 canal push boats, RSPSB146 and RSPSB153, which had been inbuilt 1978 and 1979 respectively, are the primary to bear this course of.
It has taken about ten months to transform the 2 vessels. The previous engines have been changed with trendy diesel turbines manufactured by SCANIA and Caterpillar – they’re truck engines, that are additionally licensed to be used on board inland waterway vessels. They function with stage 5 exhaust fuel therapy and be certain that particles, which injury the atmosphere, are now not in a position to make their manner into the air. Which means Rhenus is reaching a discount in air pollution attributable to particulate matter of as a lot as 40%. The engines have a ranking of 740 kW, which represents a tripling of the efficiency of the previous models. The engine room has been fully gutted and refurbished to create house for the considerably bigger engines. All of the previous pumps, digital tools and subassemblies have given method to the most recent electronics and a contemporary management cupboard. The brand new engine is encapsulated in a Silence Pack enclosure and operates very quietly, in order that the crew on board can relaxation at evening. A brand new energy practice with thrust bearings and shaft seals has been added and the rudder hydraulics has been totally up to date. The 2 vessels will proceed to function on the jap German inland waterways.
Thomas Kaulbach, the Managing Director of Rhenus PartnerShip, mentioned, “Many of the vessels operated by German inland waterway corporations are between 30 and 50 years previous. This is applicable to ours too. Scrapping them makes completely no sense in any respect, notably as it’s so easy to refit them in an acceptable method. That’s precisely what we’re looking for to do with our program entitled German inland waterway delivery – evolving for the long run.”
Earlier this yr, Rhenus offered the primary flagships of a brand new, low-emission fleet era to supply sustainable inland waterway delivery in future. The push-barge combos function with a hydrogen-powered drive practice and electrical batteries, even when there’s a sturdy present.
Rhenus can also be persevering with to develop its short-sea fleet. Rhenus and Arkon Delivery have collectively designed 5 new vessels for transporting items close to coastlines.
