In connection with previous projects, diesel generators have been hired both for paint work and engine start-up, and also to reduce the number of hours the generator sets installed on board the vessels are used. 'The requirements are becoming stricter and stricter when it comes to reducing the number of hours on the engines before handover in order to keep the warranty valid,' says head of QA and electrician at the yard, Sigvar Giil, who is very pleased with the shoreside power system investment. The accepted budget allocated NOK 1.35 million to a new diesel generator, but the money will instead be spent on the new shoreside power system.
Reduced noise
Havyard's order books are well filled, and the activity level will be high both this year and next year. 'Power from shore will reduce the noise load on our neighbours, and it will also reduce the crew needed to tend the machinery, which will in turn reduce our use of overtime,' Giil explains. Havyard started using the the shoreside power system in June, during the start-up period for Havyard's newbuilding number 120.
'Our goal is to continue to expand the system in the autumn and next year, so that, in time, we will be able to serve two or three vessels at the same time,' says the electrician.
Competitive advantage
The modern and environmentally friendly solution will also result in financial savings. 'Electricity is cheaper than using energy from diesel generators. Thus our investment is very much in line with the wishes of the end customers. Statoil, for example, is implementing many measures in relation to the electrification of the Norwegian continental shelf,' says Giil, and adds that it is also a big advantage for customers who return to the shipyard for repairs on vessels that they can be moored at the quay without running on diesel. 'We anticipate increasing customer demands in this area in future, and it will be a competitive advantage for us to be able to offer this both for newbuildings and in the after-market,' he says, and adds that it is important to attend to customers' needs.
World-class
Frekvensomformer.no and Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) has supplied the converters, and Sunnfjord Energi will supply high-voltage transformers.
Innovation Norway supports the investment by providing a NOK 2,5 million loan. They also supported the yard's ISO 14001 project and the CSR project Samfunnsansvarlig næringsliv, for which Havyard is the main sponsor.
'As far as we know, we are the first shipyard in Norway to use this modern type of converter and supply 60 Hz shore power, which is the international standard for ships,' says Giil.
The project has developed during the process as projects teams and the engineers has defined the different needs. Rune Morten Handal, head of the commissioning and start-up department at Havyard Ship Technology tells us that they have made an agreement to rent a third converter. ‘With this system we do not have to start the vessel’s diesel generators until right before sea trials’, he explains and dare to claim: ‘Havyard is now world-class in commissioning diesel-electric propulsion systems.’
During this Autumn the system will be extended to enable it to supply up to three ships at the quay simultaneously