E-Ship 1 back in service after genset swap

Enercon said the 130.42m long, 12,968gt ship, built by Lindenau Werft in Kiel and completed at Cassens Werft in Emden in 2010 was back in operation after “undergoing various necessary modifications” at Cassens including the replacement of seven Diesel generators.

E-Ship 1 was taken out of service a year ago because of “repeated technical issues” with her Mitsubishi generators – which provide the electricity to run the ship’s four innovative 25m Flettner rotors which are said to save about 30% of fuel.

Enercon has never identified the old generators or said specifically what was wrong with them or what has replaced them.

Reports however say the old Mitsubishi generators were five Type S 16 R – MPTK units of 1500 kw/1500 rpm each and two Mitsubishi S 12 R – MPTK units of 1120 kw/1500 rpm each and that they regularly broke down. The reports say they had been replaced by Caterpillar generators, but the type was not immediately known.

E-Ship 1 reportedly also had two Mitsubishi S 6 R – MPTA units of 515 kw/1500 rpm each on board and two electric generators, modified for maritime use by Enercon.

Enercon reported that along with the generator swap, it had taken advantage of the yard time to “optimise E-Ship’s onboard technical system”. Again, no details were given but Enercon MD Nicole Fritsch-Nehring said “the new engines and other improvements will make our ship’s Diesel-electric system even more efficient and will contribute to further increasing energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption”.

The initial performance of the converted

E-Ship 1

was being closely monitored from onshore and a weather routing system was being introduced to determine the best course for optimum use of the Flettner rotors to achieve maximum fuel savings.