In cooperation with ZEDHub, Smart Delta Drechtsteden, the Municipality of Dordrecht and the Port of Rotterdam, Van Oord has carried out a pilot project with an electrified crane vessel, Christiaan P, in the seaport of Dordrecht in the Netherlands. The project was partly financed by the Regio Deal Drechtsteden-Gorinchem.
Electric crane vessel pilot
Christiaan P. is owned by Van Oord’s subsidiary, Paans Van Oord, and was retrofitted in preparation for the pilot project. All its engines were replaced with electric motors and the crane was replaced by an electric version.
For the pilot, two DENS Powerhub 870kWh mobile battery systems were used. These were charged at night at the shore power point of the Municipality of Dordrecht. In addition, a Nexus fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container were installed on board, so that the batteries can be charged when shore power is not available.
During the pilot project, research was conducted into how effective and efficient battery-electric dredging is in practice. Various measurements were carried out, such as energy consumption when sailing at different speeds and during light and heavy dredging operations. In addition, testing was done on how the batteries are charged via shore power and the ship’s own generator. Research was also undertaken into whether the batteries can be continuously charged during work using hydrogen.
The results
According to the partners, all the trials and tests went extremely well. The data collected is now being developed and analyzed. The lessons learned are expected to be used soon to implement other zero-emission projects and thus achieve Van Oord’s sustainability goals.
Cor Paans, manager of Paans Van Oord, said, “We are extremely proud of our engineering team who prepared and carried out this pilot project. Thanks to their expert preparation, everything worked flawlessly. That was also thanks to close cooperation with the supply companies (DENS, Nexus Energy and Roger Energy) and the cooperating partners. The Christiaan P. is a great addition to our zero-emission fleet, and the results of this project will make a significant contribution to achieving Van Oord’s sustainability goals.”
ZEDHub coordinator Arjen de Jong added, “This project was initiated by ZEDHub, where companies, the education sector and government are working together to accelerate the energy transition in the dredging sector. It’s a great example of how we investigate and improve technical and economic feasibility and the associated risks. By sharing what we learn with the Dutch dredging industry, we can help the entire value chain make progress.”
Leen Paans, harbor master of the Municipality of Dordrecht, stated, “As a government, we have the ambition to reduce CO2 emissions. That is why we have entered into a multi-year contract with Van Oord, a party that shares the same sustainable vision. When tendering for such a contract, we always include this sustainable criterion in the award criteria. In this way, we encourage companies to work on this, and we act as a launching customer, with which we promote innovation as the first purchaser. As a government, we can make the right assessment in this, without overtaxing the market with unrealistic demands. This pilot in the seaport of Dordrecht gives a realistic picture of what is possible.”
In related news, Van Oord recently christened its Rijn and Rhône hybrid water-injection dredgers and an unmanned survey vessel, VO:X Barentsz, during an event at the Van Oord head office jetty in Rotterdam. Click here to read the full story.