Engine and eco revamp for research veteran

The 54.59m long and 12.5m wide government-owned Heincke, in service since 1990, arrived at engine specialist MWB earlier this month and is scheduled to remain at the yard, part of German Dry Docks, until 10 February, said operator Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).

Marius Hirsekorn, AWI research ship logistics co-ordinator, told The Motorship work on the ship included the exchange of her three KHD MWM TDB-604 L 6 main engines each of 525kW, with “comparable” MAN D 3842 LE301 units of 532kW. The old engines were no longer economical, consumed too much fuel and were expensive to maintain and obtain spares for, he said.

The engine exchange was taking place through existing maintenance hatches in the deck.

Mr Hirsekorn also reported that the ship’s in-port generator was being scrapped and not replaced and that in addition each new engine was getting a soot particle filter with downstream SCR from HUG.

In order to be able to install all the components, the entire funnel was being replaced and an air compressor and a urea tank were also being added. Other work on Heincke included the replacement of her existing boiler, regular repairs and maintenance and the installation of a new 600kHz Teledyne RDI Workhorse Mariner ADCP, Model WHVM600, Mr Hirsekorn said.

Heincke

sister

Alkor

is currently also in dock at a German yard for work including the repair of her rudder plant. She is at Lindenau Schiffswerft in Kiel where experts from Becker Marine Systems have removed, repaired and re-installed the unit in the yard’s Dock 11 with the help of Lindenau personnel. Other general work on

Alkor

has included underwater hull cleaning and pipe maintenance.