Becker LNG barge at SMM

The 74m long barge is part of a project started in summer 2012 between AIDA Cruises and Becker to provide low emission electrical power to cruise ships while at port.

“We have developed special drive systems for this and are happy to be presenting our LNG Hybrid Barge at SMM. It works like a floating power station and can supply energy to cruise ships in an environmentally-friendly way,” said Henning Kuhlmann, managing director, Becker Marine Systems.

After a 500km trip from its manufacturing site along the River Danube in the Komárno, Slovakia, the LNG Hybrid Barge will be arriving at the Port of Hamburg and will be transferring energy to a cruise ship for the first time in October.

As well as presenting the barge at SMM, Becker will also present the LNG PowerPac, and LNG-powered generator for ships in port operations.

“We want to establish LNG as a fuel for ship propulsion systems. That’s why, for example, we have initiated projects with a variety of suppliers, shipping companies and ports for LNG storage, the least expensive way to rebuild engines and the provision of gas-related logistics,” added Dirk Lehmann, managing director.

The Schramm Group, operator of the first German LNG transhipment port, will be the operator of the barge. It will be fitted with five gensets supplied by Zeppelin Power Systems totalling 7.5 MW for 50/60 Hz operating solely on LNG.

The SMM exhibition takes place in Hamburg from 9 to 12 September 2014. Visit Becker on stand A.22, Hall A.