LNG-powered push boat awarded AiP
Illlustration of the climate-friendly shallow-water push boat (Source: Rolls-Royce)
A new shallow-water push boat, powered by LNG and designed jointly by Rolls-Royce and Canadian tug specialist, Robert Allan, has been awarded Approval in Principle by DNV GL.
The push boat, powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M55RN natural gas engines, has been developed for use on inland waterways. Such a vessel will prove to be both more efficient to operate and less polluting in terms of emissions, the companies said.
The push boat has been developed based on Robert Allan’s existing RApide 2800-Z2 design which, with diesel engines, can be found in operation on the River Amazon. Design modifications were necessary, however, to make space for the gas engines and the IMO Tier III emission control systems, as well as the LNG supply, gas control, safety, and vessel control systems.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ Stefan Müller, head of the company’s Marine & Naval Application Center, believes the use of high-speed, pure gas engines such as the MTU Series 4000, offers great potential in ports, coastal applications and inland transportation. Such engines will soon be deployed on an LNG-powered car ferry on the Bodensee in the south of Germany.
