Germany builds ?Blue Angel? standard research vessel

The Baltic Sea Research Institute Warnemünde, a non-university research institute dedicated to interdisciplinary marine research in coastal and marginal seas, is expanding its capabilities with a new, state-of-the-art, ice-breaking research vessel. The newbuilding, is to be named Maria S Merian, and will operate in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the North Atlantic, up to its northern ice boundary regions, to study marine ecosystems.

Although the order was placed with Lurssen Kroeger Werft shipyard in Rendsburg, the building of the ship was contracted out to the Gdansk shipyard of Maritim but it is unclear where this vessel is currently being outfitted. The Maria S Merian is scheduled to enter into service in January 2005 and will be managed by Briese Schiffahrts who will provide the crew.

Research winches

A number of novel features are incorporated, among these are seven special winches supplied by Hatlapa which were successfully tested and demonstrated in their Uetersen factory. Hatlapa became involved with this project some five years ago, during which time the design of the winches was finalized in close cooperation with the order principal BAW (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau) and the shipyard Kroeger Werft. Several new solutions were introduced which were incorporated during the final design stage.

One unusual feature is the combination of friction and storage winching for handling the very long and relatively thin measuring cables. The advantage is that the sensitive and expensive research ropes can be spooled on the storage winch free from any imposed loads. The pull is created in the friction part and exerted via several grooved drums to protect the rope. A spooling device, which has been developed and patented by Hatlapa, also guarantees that the rope is wound onto the storage winch in a clean and smooth manner thus preventing the crossing of rope layers and avoiding rope breakages.

The storage winches have a very large drum diameter offering a low curvature radius of rope when wound on for protecting the sensitive measuring wires in the ropes. The knowledge gained over several years in research vessels worldwide, and the constant development of the mechanical and electrical components, has put Hatlapa in a position to offer winches that can handle research ropes of more than 10,000 m in length without damage. These ropes are not the normal synthetic or steel wire rope, but consist of a single cable with an outer coating of synthetic material to protect the conductor against damage, to guarantee the necessary shielding, and to absorb the forces. Constant communication is possible between the control and measuring instruments by transmission rings in the winch both during paying-out and hauling-in of the rope. During operation the paid-out rope length, pull and speed are measured constantly by special measuring instruments on the winch and are transmitted electronically to the operator at the control pedestal.

By using frequency inverter controlled motors, the speed can be finely controlled and the winches can operate in perfect synch. The usual maximum demands that would normally be made on the shipboard power supply, the ropes and mechanics are eliminated, because the winches are on stand-by from zero speed to full torque, thus allowing a smooth start.

The electric driving capacity of each winch is up to 352 kW which is produced by four motors each of 88 kW. By using four motors, not only is the reserve capacity increased but also the distribution of the load into the gear allows for a more compact construction. To dissipate the heat generated in the electric motors, water-cooling has been provided as opposed to the usual air-cooling.

The incorporated high performance guiding rolls, also supplied by Hatlapa, lead the ropes from the working deck to the winch room in the ship’s interior. The single ropes can be diverted to different winches allowing greater operational flexibility. Changing the stored research ropes on the various rope drums is possible while at sea by means of a special rewinding winch.

Diesel electric plant

The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric power plant based on two 1,600kW 8L21/31 and two 1,200kW 6L21/31 diesel gensets from MAN B&W?s Holeby range of engines.

Engine emission limits comply with ?Blue Angel? which is a German standard for environmentally friendly technology covering a wide range of subjects in our daily life. In the marine world, Blue Angel has a comprehensive set of rules, including exhaust emission from diesel engines. For instance, it only allows a NOx emission of 80% of the IMO limits and, although all engines from MAN B&W comply with the IMO rules, the latest L21/31 engine has been further optimised to comply with Blue Angel.

Delivery of the engines and final NOx tests in Denmark were surveyed by GL and they are the first engines in the world delivered in compliance with the ?Blue Angel? emission standard. The engines were specially optimised to low NOx emission levels (without any fuel penalty) by optimising the primary process internally in the engine with no after treatment of the exhaust gas.

The propulsion system

A total main engine output of 5,600 kW provides the power for the drive system comprising of two 2.1MW Schottel SEP 2 podded propulsors as well as a 1,600kW Schottel Pump Jet type SPJ 320 as a manoeuvring aid. In addition, the gensets provide a complete power supply for both the ship?s hotel load and its scientific operations. The pods drive the vessel at a maximum speed of 18 knots and a service/cruising speed of 15 knots. n