We first met Hydraulic Marine Systems during our coverage of the International Workboat Show in December and, like the rest of the trade show participants, were amazed by the product. Boiled down, they lease mobile propulsion units that can be readily affixed to a barge or used to provide supplemental power to any vessel with available deck space. This system has already proved valuable for salvage operations with new uses being discovered on a frequent basis.
Here is a video demonstration of the product: [Continue Reading →]
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Tags: · marine-engineering, marine_propulsion, propulsion_system, propulsion_systems, Salvage, workboat
gCaptain.com had a chance to speak with Todd Preston of Hydraulic Marine Systems. Hydraulic Marine Systems was one of the biggest hits of the 2008 International WorkBoat Show. They rolled into the show with a fully operational, self contained, system that was sold on the spot. Not a big surprise when you take into account the effectiveness, diversity and durability of their unique product. Here is what they had to tell gCaptain.
What are some of the more challenging or interesting projects your thrusters have been utilized on?
Our Thrusters are used on a variety of platforms including carpenter barges used for bridge work, Crane Barges, Dredging, Fuel barges and shuttle barges. We have several lease units on location in San Juan, Costa Rica which are being utilized on a Marina project.
Probably the most interesting project would be the most recent one also. The 275HP Twin unit Displayed at the WorkBoat Show in New Orleans sold right off the floor and was delivered to a nearby location on Saturday after the show closed. The unit was installed on a 90×250′ Salvage Barge called the “Dixie Diver”. The barge and its crew, along with Divers, set way for a project in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday to perform salvage recovery operations from an oil platform that was damaged during Tropical Storm Fay. [Continue Reading →]
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Tags: · interview, marine propulsion, propulsion_systems
We are always on the lookout for “green” stories so were pleased when a friend forwarded a link to Skysails, a German based company looking to augment tradition ship propulsion systems with kites.
SkySails tells us:
SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies.
By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%. Even on a small, 87 metre cargo ship, savings of up to 280,000 euros can be made annually.
They are not the only company trying to harness the power of wind to propel ship, San Francisco base KiteShip.com a maker of kites for sailboats, is also trying expand into the commercial shipping industry.
“KiteShip is also working on marine applications as diverse as towing oil rigs and other large marine structures, diverting icebergs from oil platforms in high latitudes and in autonomous robot towing of relatively safe cargo such as bagged water,liquid fructose and the like.”
Both companies have tested the technology with (according to them) success. gCaptain will be bringing you more on this story in the future, so stay tuned.
Note: We have updated this post in a comprehensive look at Green Ship Propulsion
Here’s a video showing how the system works;
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Tags: · Chief Engineer, Environment, kites, kite_ship, Marine Technology, marine-engineering, marine_propulsion, Maritime, propulsion_system, propulsion_systems, Ships, skysails, Uncategorized
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