The Mannheim is 200 meters long, an inland cargo ship that has now been equipped with a diesel-electric drive system featuring five Paccar MX-13 engines.
The 530 hp engines from DAF in Eindhoven are intended to make the ship operate 30 percent more efficiently. Additionally, according to the manufacturer, the ship's NOx emissions are five times lower compared to similar ships with conventional drive systems. The diesel-electric system also ensures a quieter and more comfortable journey for the 4,600-ton Mannheim.
The ship is operated by Rhenus Partnership, a subsidiary of the Rhenus Group. The Mannheim is
deployed between southern Germany, Antwerp, and Rotterdam.
Engine Conversion by NPS Driven
Rhenus commissioned the Dutch company Vink Diesel to equip the Mannheim with the mentioned drive. The five engines were converted for maritime use by the Dutch provider NPS Driven. Each drives a generator, which in turn drives two electric motors and thus the ship's two screws.
Engine Control as Needed
The manufacturer specifies a maximum power of 2,650 hp (1,946 kW) for the drive system. The ship also features an innovative energy management system that controls how many of the MX-13 engines need to
run at what capacity.
When fully loaded and traveling upstream, all five engines are used to generate the maximum amount of electricity. However, downstream, often one engine is sufficient. This flexible use is intended to save fuel and contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.
In port, the ship can be maneuvered completely electrically and emission-free—thanks to an additional battery and a supplementary hydrogen-powered energy source, the engines can be switched off. It is also possible to travel emission-free through cities located along the river.
According to Peter van der Heijden, managing director of NPS Driven, the engines
only run when needed.
“Compared to similar conventional drive systems, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 30 percent lower. And the fact that Rhenus has chosen HVO as fuel means that CO2 emissions are reduced by another 90 percent. The NOx emissions of the Paccar MX-13 engines are also five times lower than the cleanest ship engines currently on the market,” said van der Heijden.
Robert Graf-Potthoff, technical inspector at Rhenus, mentions another advantage of the engines used: They require less maintenance than a standard ship engine, which in turn increases the availability of the ship.
