Kooiman Marine Group will build two aluminium patrol vessels for the Port of Antwerp. The vessels will be equipped with a battery package enabling them to sail exclusively on electric power for 2.5 hours at 9 kilometres per hour exclusively on electric power.
The vessels are an ongoing development of the RPA 8, a patrol vessel that Kooiman Marine Group designed and built for the Port of Rotterdam. The RPA 8 combines diesel and diesel-electric propulsion with Van Oossanen’s Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) and an underwater spoiler, the Hull Vane. Together this makes the ship more economical than comparable ships in this segment. In addition, the vessel makes considerably less waves, which is important when passing ships in port.
Just like the RPA 8, dimensions for the patrol vessels for Antwerp are: length over all (LOA) 25.0 metres, beam 5.4 metres, moulded depth 3.1 metres and draught 1.36 metres. The vessels will also be built in aluminium, thereby reducing vessel weight.
Power Modes
In addition to the fully electric option, the vessels have two other power modes: full diesel propulsion or hybrid propulsion. The vessels can achieve maximum speeds of 35 kilometres per hour using diesel propulsion and 22 kilometres per hour using hybrid propulsion. A diesel particulate filter and integrated exhaust gas treatment system ensure that fewer harmful substances (SOx/NOx) are released.
The vessels, developed by Kooiman Engineering in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, will be built at Scheepswerf Gebr. Kooiman, also in Zwijndrecht, with a scheduled delivery for autumn 2020.
