Wärtsilä HY for Dredger enhances dredging efficiency and sustainability

Technology group Wärtsilä has launched the Wärtsilä HY for Dredger, a new product based on Wärtsilä’s HY hybrid propulsion technology, aimed specifically at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of dredging operations. The product, which was presented at the company’s Hybrid Centre in Trieste, Italy, features a combination of different power sources, including the engines and energy storage systems, the power distribution equipment, and the energy management system (EMS). The EMS ensures instant load taking and dynamic power demand. It also has the capability for intelligent tuning to optimize performance throughout the vessel’s lifecycle. “Real operational data from the field was analyzed so as to understand exactly the challenges to be overcome, and the product was engineered accordingly,” said Giulio Tirelli, Wärtsilä Marine’s director of sales and business intelligence. “Through working closely with our customers, we have been able to further develop the HY technology and customize a new integrated product for the dredging market.” Henrik Wilhelms, director, offshore and special vessels, Wärtsilä Marine, added, “With this we can have a lower environmental impact, better fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance because of fewer running hours. This will deliver the most advanced energy solution currently available to the dredging industry, while maintaining a payback time as short as two years.”