Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch signed its largest marine contract to date to provide 16 DC-Hubs and 32 frequency converters for a revolutionary new shuttle tanker concept developed by Teekay and Wärtsilä. The four tankers will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, and deliveries to Wärtsilä are set for September 2018.
The Switch DC-Hub technology is a key piece of the jigsaw. It provides absolute redundancy and system availability while eliminating the need for a traditional AC switchboard. A DC-Hub lowers both the initial system investment cost and long-term operational expenses.
Asbjørn Halsebakke, General Manager, Norway, states: “We’ve been focused on developing technology that cuts operational cost, enabling vessels to be more competitive and reducing their impact on the environment. We feel there is a growing demand for smarter, more sustainable operations, and this concept from Teekay and Wärtsilä embodies that drive. We’re delighted that our technology plays such an important role in a design that can be a real game-changer for the niche shuttle tanker segment.”
The lightweight frequency converters, eight in each ship, provide reliable system performance. The DC-Hubs enable Wärtsilä’s hybrid solution, which uses batteries for fuel savings. Any energy source can be connected to the DC-Hub.
The technology is simple, robust and perfect for this concept. It works with Wärtsilä’s smart solutions to enhance operational efficiency. Any power source can be connected to the DC-Hub to future-proof vessels.
Any power source can be connected to the DC-Hub, which helps to future-proof vessels.
Vessel’s photo source: Teekay