LNG hybrid barge makes progress

Becker, AIDA Cruises and barge shipping company, Hybrid Port Energy, gathered at the SAM Shipbuilding and Machinery shipyard in Kormáno, Slovakia, for the traditional ceremony last month.

The 74m long, 11.4m wide barge will be stationed at the Port of Hamburg with the aim of supplying environmentally-friendly electricity to cruise ships during their layovers at the port.

It will be equipped with five generators from Zeppelin Power Systems to produce a total power of 7.5 MW but with zero sulphur oxide emissions and soot particles.

Becker says the generators used will be the first marine classified LNG Caterpillar engines to be delivered to customers.

Another ‘first’ in this project is the Port of Hamburg’s offering of an external, environmentally-friendly and low-emissions power supply for cruise ships in Europe.

The LNG hybrid barge will also be equipped to offer other potential customers heat and electricity in the winter.

Delivery is expected for summer 2014 – just two years after the project began.