VESSEL REVIEW | Raju – Estonia’s new pollution-combating hybrid patrol ship

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From 2021 the Baltic Sea will become an emission control area, and with that resolution for cleaner-running boats, the Estonian Police and Border Guard requires high-performance and low-emission patrol boats.

Baltic Workboats has delivered the first of these, a wave-piercing hybrid patrol vessel designed to protect the Baltic Sea from oil spills. Its main role will be monitoring and responding to pollution threats, using state-of-the-art radar that can detect surface contamination from up to five miles away.

Raju is 44.6 metres long and is equipped with the latest technology to also fulfil SAR, surveillance, fire-fighting, oil recovery, buoy tendering and transport duties.

The hybrid propulsion plant provides a maximum speed of 27 knots, while economic cruising speed is 10 to 12 knots with a range of 3,000 nautical miles.

Parallel hybrid power system supports the ship's two main engines with a smaller diesel-engine-driven power plant and electric machines coupled to the main engines by gearboxes.

The hybrid electric system generates electricity when running at speeds of up to 27 knots, providing power to vessel electronics, as well as storing this power in batteries, and, vice versa, also enabling fully-electric propulsion at up to 10 knots.

The hybrid electric drivetrain, developed by Danfoss, serves a double purpose of drastically cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel costs, while also allowing stealth mode in anti-smuggling operations.

The vessel's highly-compact propulsion system is half the size of a conventional diesel-electric propulsion system, due to its smaller, highly-efficient and lightweight magnet machines, which feature synchronous reluctance-assisted permanent magnet technology.

In the event of a SAR or special operation tasking it can deploy its seven-metre workboat and rescue runner. The vessel will have a crew of 10, although 18 can be accommodated onboard when a larger crew is required for longer missions.

Stabilising fins and an anti-heeling tank are installed to reduce anti-rolling effect and increase the ships seakeeping capability. For advanced mission control the ship is equipped with dynamic positioning system and OSD radar.

The noise levels in the wheelhouse at full speed are lower than 60 decibels, and in full electric mode the vessel can go up to 10 knots without engine noise or vibrations. When mooring at night, energy consumption is low, and the crew can sleep in a quiet vessel.

Raju
SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel:Anti-pollution/patrol vessel
Flag:Estonia
Class:Lloyds Register
Classification:+100A1 SSC Patrol Mono HSC G3
Operator:Estonian Police and Border Guard
Designer:Baltic Workboats, Estonia
Builder:Baltic Workboats, Estonia
Owner/operator:Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
Length overall:44.60 metres
Length bp:41.8 metres
Breadth, moulded:8.80 metres
Depth, moulded:4.78 metres
Design, draught:1.67 metres
Gross tonnage:445
Displacement:260 tonnes
Deadweight, design:55 tonnes
Lightweight:200 tonnes
Main engines:2 x MTU 16V4000 M63, each 2,000 kW @ 1,800 rpm
Gearboxes:2 x ZF 9300
Energy storage:273 kWh
Propulsion:2 x NiBrAl CU3 FPP, 1.8m dia.
Bow thruster:Sleipner
Stern thruster:Sleipner
Service speed:12 knots
Maximum speed:27 knots
Range:3,000 nm @ 10 knots
Radar:Simrad Argus
Autopilot:Simrad AP80
GMDSS:Jotron TR30
GPS:Promarine proGPS 2000
Gyrocompass:Simrad GC85
Crane:HS Marine AK 55 E4, 2,525 kg @ 13.45 metres
Rescue boats:2
FiFi:2 x 600 m3/h
Fuel oil:29.8 m3
Fresh water:2.0 m3
Sullage:3.6 m3
Ballast water:14.5 m3
Fuel consumption:1000 L/h @ 26.5 knots; 100 L/h @ 10 knots
Crew:10
Passengers:18
Accommodation:11

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