Propulsion and steering systems manufacturer Schottel will equip a survey, wreck-search and research vessel, the Atair, with one of its low-emission liquid gas propulsion systems. The Atair can run on LNG and will carry a 10-day supply in a 130-cubic-meter tank on board. The dual fuel engine can also use diesel and will carry a supply of diesel fuel oil with a sulphur content less than 0.1%.
The Atair will use a Schottel Pump Jet type SPJ 220 (1,000 kW), one Schottel Transverse Thruster type STT 1 FP (330 kW) in the bow and one Schottel Transverse Thruster type STT 170 FP (200 kW) in the stern to increase its manoeuvrability. The pump jet can also be used as a standby unit.
In addition to making the vessel more environmentally friendly, the Schottel propulsion units have low noise emissions. Not will only will this protect the marine environment, it will create optimal conditions for performing scientific work onboard the vessel.
The ship complies with International Maritime Organisation (IMO Tier III) standards for emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA Tier IV) regulations for soot particle emissions. It also meets the requirements for the German Federal Ministry of the Environment’s Blue Angel award for eco-friendly ship design.
The 75-meter long and roughly 17-meter wide vessel can accommodate 18 crew and 15 scientists. It comes with several laboratories, a station for measuring air pollution, a crane, a bridle beam for geological activities on the seabed, a 200-square-meter work deck and diving equipment, including a diving chamber. The new vessel was ordered by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) and is currently under construction at Fassmer in Berne, Germany. The new research vessel will be the largest vessel in BSH’s fleet, when it replaces the previous Atair. It is due to be commissioned in spring 2020 and will be based in Hamburg.
