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January, 2006 • MarineNews 15 GE Diesel Replaces Steam Turbine on Freighter A new GE 7FDM medium-speed diesel engine recent- ly replaced an existing steam turbine propulsion system to power Voyageur Marine Transport's Voyageur Inde- pendent straight-deck bulk freighter. The 16-cylinder engine provides 4,100 hp for this vessel, which is owned by Voyageur Marine Transport Limited, Ridgeville, Ontario, Canada. Voyageur Marine Transport's 642-ft. freighter underwent an extensive re-fit in the Port of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The Voyageur Independent, with the GE diesel engine, started successful operations on November 19, 2005, carrying mainly agricultural bulk products throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Sea- way system. In fact, the vessel frequently crosses Lake Erie — nearby GE Transportation's manufacturing facil- ity in Erie — as it brings grain from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada to the province of Quebec. Circle 21 on Reader Service Card New Vessel Control Unit from HamiltonJet HamiltonJet introduced the MouseBoat controller for its new blue ARROW electronic control system. The MouseBoat is an intuitive low speed control device for single or twin waterjet-powered boats, which together with blue ARROW is designed to make maneuvering in even the tightest situations simple and safe. The MouseBoat is a miniature boat hand piece that moves and acts much like a computer mouse. Whereas a standard mouse moves a cursor up, down and sideways across a computer monitor, movement of the MouseBoat results in the same movement of the vessel, be it ahead, astern, or sideways. The MouseBoat also adds a third axis, allowing rotation of the device to control vessel heading whether traveling ahead or astern, or in the "zero speed" mode. It is designed to allow operators with little or no expe- rience of waterjet propulsion to easily harness the full maneuvering capabilities twin waterjet units provide. For this reason the MouseBoat is ideal in situations where there is a high operator turnover, when time given to instruction and training is limited, or where operators are required to be multi-functional on a range of vessels, such as in military and quasi-military applications. The device makes low speed and docking control intu- itive, so the operator is able to react instinctively to changing situations without having to think about what combination of wheel, reverse lever and throttle is required to perform a particular maneuver. The blue ARROW system translates commands from the MouseBoat into steering control and differential movement of the waterjet's Astern Deflectors to provide sideways tracking. Along with steering and ahead/astern control, the MouseBoat also manages low speed engine throttle. This is either done by moving or rotating the device further in the desired direction to increase boat speed or rate of turn, or by using buttons on the top of the MouseBoat to increase or decrease engine rpm indepen- dently both in the devices centralized position and the degree of span. Spring-center action returns the Mouse- Boat to the central "zero speed"/straight-ahead mode when released. Circle 22 on Reader Service Card The EPS Silent Thruster The EPS Silent Thruster from Van der Velden Marine Sys- tems has no gap between the propeller blades and the tunnel, removing the main source of noise pollu- tion. This unique con- struction, without gear or propeller shaft, also means that the EPS Silent Thruster is compact. A flexible rubber mounting further eliminates noise and vibration. The EPS Silent Thruster is also designed to offer weight savings. Its lightweight blades were developed using the very latest computer technology. The blades are designed to be simple to fit and exchange. Moreover, it offers an equally powerful thrust to both port and star- board as well as impressive steering power and maneu- vering accuracy. In addition to the fixed thrusters, Van der Velden Marine Systems is working on retractable systems as well as using the concept of the EPS as a means of propulsion. Tests are currently being carried out for the latter purpose in order to optimise the shape of the pro- peller blades. Circle 23 on Reader Service Card PROPULSION UPDATES ATTENTION BOATBUILDERS: Do you need Performance Bonds? call TREY BRYANT 251-438-4001 We also specialize in... Marine Coverage: Hull & Machinery, P & I, Cargo, Marine General Liability Insurance as well as USL & H and Workers Compensation Insurance Commercial & Marine Insurance Brokers, Inc. 205 St. Louis Street/2nd Floor Mobile, Alabama 36602 Circle 205 on Reader Service Card JANUARY MN2006 2(9-16).qxd 1/4/2006 7:17 PM Page 15
