By
Alice Chambers |
Brodosplit, a Croatian shipbuilder and member of DIV Group, has begun work on a zero-emission passenger sailing ship, which will have electric generator propulsion.
The ship will be 63.5 metres long, 10 metres wide and 5.4 metres high, with the hull and superstructure made from steel and the masts from aluminium alloy.
Designed to produce zero carbon emissions, the vessel will operate under sail and be powered by two 150 kilowatt- electric motors, which will be charged from different sources. The vessel will be equipped with 30 tons of batteries, which collectively provide a maximum of 2,300 kilowatt-hours of power. It will also have two diesel generators for emergency use.
The two vertical wind turbines, each placed on either end of the ship, will supply electricity whilst the ship is in port, alongside a photovoltaic solar system that will be installed on the roof of the vessel. An important element of the design is the ship’s propeller system, which serves as a water turbine whilst sailing, allowing it to generate power to charge the batteries. Metrological data and generated energy will be able to be monitored onboard.
The project, which began in February 2020 and was funded by the European Union, aims to develop an eco-innovate vessel which can operate emission-free using alternative propulsion technologies and energy sources.
DIV Group has collaborated with scientific institutions and universities to share knowledge in technology transfer. The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek’s faculty of electrical engineering, computer science and information technology is helping to develop kinetic wind energy storage systems through hydrokinetic-energy conversion and battery management. Meanwhile, the University of Split’s faculty of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and naval architecture is working on the sailing systems, sail automation, wind turbines and photovoltaic systems.
On completion, the vessel will operate across the Adriatic Sea, along the coasts of Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, and in the Caribbean during the winter season.