Eekels awarded for slow steaming solution

The company first designed the solution – “special facilities” in the main switchboard and the shaft generator which support the ‘slow steaming’ mode – back in September 2013.

Eekels says this economical and environmentally-friendly facility sees to it that, at high as well as low propeller shaft revolutions, the onboard electricity net is fed by the shaft generator.

Rik Jans from Eekels Technology, said: “We were personally proud of this project, especially because the customers’ requirements triggered us to approach the engineering in a new way.”

“This has led to a completely new, sustainable product. We are still able to execute installation activities, but increasingly we deliver high-quality knowledge. This is a step towards new markets, in the Netherlands and abroad,” he added.

Maxime Verhagen, who chaired the TBI Innovation Prize jury, said the company was chosen for its solution which “responds well to the changing philosophy of shipping companies”.

Eekels’ ‘facility’ has already been designed, manufactured, installed and supplied for the MS Helge/FS416, a ‘trollmax’ type vessel built for Swedish shipping company Erik Thun AB.