GREEN GITTE HENNING SELECTS HULL-INTEGRATED SEAWATER COOLERS

Green Gitte Henning selects hull-integrated seawater coolers  Bilbao-based shipyard Zamakona has awarded Norwegian Hydroniq Coolers a contract to supply its hull-integrated seawater cooling system to an environmentally friendly pelagic trawler the yard is constructing for Danish fishing company Gitte Henning A/S.

“The trend towards more sustainable shipping and fishing is obvious, and vessel owners clearly believe that green vessels give them a competitive edge. Our energy-saving, hull-integrated marine cooling system is therefore increasingly chosen for vessel newbuilds that want a green profile,” says Hans Robert Almestad, vice president of sales and marketing at Hydroniq Coolers.

Hydroniq Coolers will supply its “Rack” seawater cooling system to the pelagic trawler. This type of marine cooling system is integrated in the hull below the main engine room of the vessel. Here it reduces temperatures in the ship’s engines and other auxiliary systems through use of seawater, but without taking up valuable engine room space.

Integrating the seawater cooling system in the hull below the engine room is more energy efficient than alternative solutions. In turn, this results in lower fuel consumption, lower emission levels and lower operating costs for the shipowner.

Hydroniq Coolers will manufacture and assemble the equipment at its headquarters outside Aalesund, Norway, and deliver it to Zamakona shipyard in Bilbao, Spain. Hydroniq Coolers has not disclosed the value of its contract.

Green fishing

The newbuild diesel-electric hybrid fishing vessel – Gitte Henning 2 – will feature a number of environmentally friendly solutions, many of them new in pelagic fishing.

The one large propeller that is common on pelagic trawlers has been replaced by two propellers and a twin-skeg hull design. According to Zamakona, extensive flow analyses and model tests show a more efficient stern and propeller design, which provides larger trawling pull and less fuel consumption during trawling. Two propellers also provide the opportunity to steer the ship with minimal rudder impact, which reduces additional energy requirements during sailing and trawling.

The two propellers are powered by two electric permanent magnet (PM) motors. This type of motor has less electrical loss and can operate more efficiently than conventional electric motors throughout the power range – particularly at low engine speeds. Other features are electrical winches powered by the PM motors, and a large battery pack that supports the generators when the load is high and recharges when the load is low.

“This is a highly innovative vessel which any supplier would be proud to be associated with. The fact that this is the first time we are delivering our ‘Rack’ system to a pelagic trawler makes this a particularly interesting and prestigious project for us,” adds Almestad.

The vessel has been designed by Salt Ship Design from Stord, Norway. She is 87.6 metres long, 20 metres wide and has a deadweight of approximately 5,000 tonnes. Delivery of the trawler is scheduled for 2022.

Hydroniq Coolers is owned by Norwegian investment company SMV Invest AS (formerly Sperre Mek. Verksted AS).  The company’s name “Hydroniq” refers to regulation of temperature through utilisation of liquids.