Damen Shipyards Group has contracted Bakker Sliedrecht to deliver a flexible electrical propulsion system for an antarctic supply research vessel (ASRV).

The vessel is being built for the Australian Government and will form an integral part of the Australian Antarctic Program program in the coming years.

The ASRV will supply Australia’s permanent research stations in Antarctica and Macquarie Island, with cargo, equipment and personnel. Designed with 500 m2 on-board laboratory and office facilities, the vessel will also serve to conduct research activities.

The ASRV will be equipped with an electrical propulsion system that enables flexible use of the available power on board as multiple power configurations are supported. Furthermore, the DC drive configuration enables power take in off and power take off use of the electric propulsion motor. These options are required to allow the ice breaker to function in multiple operational profiles, such as ice-breaking and silent sailing mode.

The highlights of the project scope of Bakker Sliedrecht are the design, engineering, production, FAT-testing, certification, and commissioning of: 2 common DC bus drive systems for electric propulsion motor and bow thrusters; 2 main DC bus drive switchboards;
6 Squirrel cage induction motors for bow/stern thrusters.

The Antarctic research vessel will be built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania and is scheduled for delivery in 2020.