Becker launches LNG Hybrid Barge

Becker Marine Systems celebrated the technical launch of its new LNG Hybrid Barge in Komárno, Slovakia. The barge, which is now awaited at the Port of Hamburg, supplies low-emission energy to cruise ships, acting like a floating power plant.

Dirk Lehman, Managing Director of Becker Marine Systems, said: “This is an important day for the shipping industry, because the LNG Hybrid Barge is a big step forward for supplying cruise ships with environmentally-friendly energy.”

Hamburg calling

The LNG Hybrid Barge has a length of 76.7 m, a breadth of 11.4 m and draught of approximately 1.7 m. It will be making the 1500 km journey up the. Danube, Main and Rhine rivers north towards Hamburg, starting on 12 September. Once arrived, technical testing and commissioning will be taking place at a shipyard. Following a naming ceremony in mid-October, the LNG Hybrid Barge will, for the first time, be delivering energy to a cruise ship as part of a joint project with AIDA Cruises.

This will render Hamburg the first port in Europe to be providing an external, environmentally friendly and low-emission power supply to cruise ships. LNG is a fuel that will enable the heavy fuel oil-powered generators on ships to be switched off during layovers at port. This will prevent the release of toxic emissions. Delivered only two years after the start of the project, the LNG Hybrid Barge is equipped with five generators with an overall output of 7.5 MW (50/60 Hz). These generators will be the first marine classified LNG Caterpillar engines to be delivered to customers.

On land, an info bus from Hybrid Port Energy GmbH (the operator of the LNG Hybrid Barge and a subsidiary of Becker Marine Systems) will be accompanying the convoy being towed to Hamburg.

Ready to launch

Adapted from press release by Ted Monroe

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/08092014/becker-marine-systems-launches-lng-hybrid-barge-1359/