Voith, a global technology leader, is further expanding its product range in the marine segment with the development of two new Voith Water Tractors (VWT) type TRAktor V3900-DF, featuring dual-fuel drives. These vessels, powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) and diesel, represent a significant advancement in sustainable and efficient marine propulsion.
Building on its legacy of delivering over 1,000 conventional Voith Water Tractors and pioneering hybrid drive systems, Voith continues to lead the way in innovative marine solutions. The TRAktor V3900-DF water tractors are equipped with Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) and controlled by the Voith Electronic Control System (ECS), ensuring exceptional manoeuvrability, efficiency, and reduced emissions.
The customer and initiator of this extremely ambitious pilot project is Botaş Petroleum Pipeline Corporation, one of the largest energy companies in Türkiye working mainly in the fields of oil and natural gas transport and gas trading. “At the customer’s request, the two new VWTs for the port terminals at Ceyhan/Adana and İskenderun are to be powered in an especially sustainable, low-emission and environmentally friendly way. Preferably with LNG and diesel, as Botaş has access to sufficient quantities of both fuels at these locations,” says Gökhan Terlemez, Sales Manager NB & AMB Turkey/Middle East at Voith.
Botaş has been a loyal Voith customer for many years and already operates several VWTs. “We are immensely proud that for the upgrading of its tug fleet Botaş is relying on Voith’s advanced technologies and innovative products. It’s a partnership that has existed for many years,” says Terlemez. Incidentally, the same applies to the other project partners: The two new VWTs type TRAktor V3900-DF with dual-fuel drive are based on the design of renowned Canadian naval architecture and marine engineering firm Robert Allan Ltd. and were built by Uzmar Shipbuilding, one of the world’s leading tugboat builders, at its shipyard in Kocaeli.
“Thanks to the close technical collaboration between Robert Allan Ltd., the shipyard Uzmar, the client Botaş and the Voith team, the challenges resulting from the new kind of dual fuel technology with LNG and diesel could be successfully managed collectively – from the development stage through to the classification process,” says Patrick Denning, Sales Application Manager at Voith.
For the required maximum safety and reliability in day-to-day operation, the vessels are fitted with two Voith Schneider Propellers type VSP 32X6/265, which are also a new development. They ensure that despite their 39-meter length, the two new VWTs are as manoeuvrable and powerful as ever. With a power output of 6,000 kW, each vessel offers the characteristic exceptional escort capabilities – including a maximum speed of up to 12.5 knots and a bollard pull of more than 80 metric tons.
Another advantage: The impressive overall package is perfectly complemented by the innovative Voith Electronic Control System for first-class electronic control. To ensure that this system can be effectively used by the Botaş captains in practice, they will receive extra technical and nautical training on board. “In each case personally supervised and officially certified by our experienced training specialists. We have therefore really left nothing to be desired and are offering our customers an all-inclusive package that ticks all the boxes,” says Denning.
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