Alewijnse is looking back with satisfaction at what has been one of the most complex and sophisticated projects that it has undertaken.
The entire electrical installation on board 160-metre exceptional research vessel
With Australia’s ground-breaking polar research and supply vessel now heading for the southern hemisphere and its home port of Hobart, Tasmania, Alewijnse is now looking back with satisfaction at what has been one of the most complex and sophisticated projects that it has undertaken.
The RSV Nuyina is central to the 20-year Australian Antarctic Strategic Plan. Its role includes the resupply of Antarctic bases and research campaigns, scientific research, patrols and icebreaking.Contracted by Damen Shipyards Galati, Alewijnse was responsible for the engineering, delivery and installation of the 160-metre vessel’s entire electrical installation. This included the main power installation, the propulsion and thruster control systems, and the integrated platform management system.
Complex and advanced
The level of complexity and sheer size of this project was exceptional. With the vessel required to operate at temperatures as low as -30˚C and have the ability to break ice up to 1.65 metres thick, the equipment and materials have to be extremely durable. This resulted in the design of the main propulsion line including the integration with the main power distribution network being exceptionally complex. With the vessel equipped to support up to 150 personnel for periods of up to 90 days in some of the remotest and most hostile environments on the planet, all its electrical systems had to be of the highest quality and durability.
Relationship Alewijnse and Damen
Alewijnse has had a long and productive relationship with Damen Shipyards Group across a wide range of vessel types. It maintains a permanent presence at Damen Shipyards Galatia, where some of the group’s largest and most sophisticated vessels are built.
“This is one of the largest and most complex projects that we have worked on,” said Alewijnse Project Manager Catalin Androne. “It involved sophisticated systems that represented cutting edge-technology and demanded the highest standards of engineering and installation. The vessel is unique and while the work was challenging in the end the satisfaction of seeing it successfully completed has been huge.
