Pushing the limits

WITH THE FESTIVE CHRISTENING OF BN354 MURIA AT THE YARD IN STROOBOS, AFTER HER LAUNCH AT THE END OF APRIL, BARKMEIJER SHIPYARDS COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SERIES OF THREE DIESEL-ELECTRIC SHALLOW DRAFT PUSHERS FOR CHEMGAS SHIPPING.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARKMEIJER SHIPYARDS. Sister ships BN349 Maderas and BN350 Merapi were already transferred to Chemgas in May. The three electrically powered push boats are especially suitable for sailing when water levels are (very) low. As a result, the pushers ft in perfectly with Chemgas’ ambitous feet replacement programme in which, in additon to strengthening the feet, part of the feet is also made suitable for periods with low water levels.

The electric propulsion system – the Eprop system – is unique to the pusher series, which was developed in close collaboraton with D&A Electric. In this case, the electric drive uses four small diesel generator sets for the energy supply. The smart Power Management System efciently manages the energy supply on board and allows an optmal distributon of the generators on both the pusher and barge, ensuring optmum thrust with high performance stability and low fuel consumpton. The use of the Eprop propulsion also provides beter sailing and manoeuvring characteristcs, which means that you can also sail efectvely on fewer generators. The required energy is now supplied by four Caterpillar C18 generator sets, of which three are installed on board the pusher and one set on the push barge. For example, the push boat can also sail with only the push barge’s generator set. The Power Management System also ensures that soon it will also be possible to sail on emission-free energy sources such as bateries or fuel cells. These vessels are ready for the future.

Chemgas has specifcally chosen the KP1250 pusher type because these diesel-electric vessels have a very shallow minimum draf of just 1.20m. Low water levels on rivers are

increasingly common during dry periods. In order to be able to sail at all tmes, it is essental for shipowners to have vessels with a shallow draf at their disposal. The Maderas, Merapi, and Muria are added to the inland shipping feet of Chemgas, which operates with its ships from Vlissingen, Roterdam, Antwerp to Basel.

The four shipyards of Thecla Bodewes Shipyards, Barkmeijer Shipyards being one of them, have more than 300 years of experience in developing and building ships that enable clients to successfully conduct business. The Thecla Bodewes innovatons are practcal, smart, and innovatve.

The Thecla Bodewes Shipyards yards have built no fewer than ffeen ships for Chemgas in recent years. Chemgas is market leader in the transport of pressurised liquefed gases by sea and inland vessels up to 3,500m3. With the recent deliveries of Maderas, Merapi, and Muria, three futureproof pushers have been added to the Chemgas feet.

29.5m 11.4m 2.76m 1.2m 5