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board the ship resulted in many conver- sations between the builder and crew. The trials and delivery of the American Phoenix, a 50,000 dwt U.S. fl ag prod- uct carrier, were deemed to be so quiet and calm that the crew continually looked through the port lights to see if the ship was actually at sea. Amtech was next employed to de- velop a lithium battery hybrid propul- sion research vessel. The propulsion system developed by Northern Lights, BAE Hybrid Systems and Corvus En- ergy was introduced due to a request to reduce emissions and fuel con- sumption along with providing a qui- eter platform for collecting data and teaching. Built at Robert E. Derecktor shipyard in Mamaroneck, New York, the Spirit of the Sound hybrid applica- tion is being used as a platform for off- shore wind farm maintenance where emissions at the farms will be an is- sue during construction. The research vessel is used to collect water samples and track marine life in Long Island Sound and the actual “noise” benefi t of the silent propulsion system was not realized until sea trials were conducted and schools of fi sh and other marine life surrounded the vessel during its movements in and out of the harbor, without machinery noise or wake. On Deck Noise reduction efforts have also continued in our Articulated Tug and Barge designs and construction. Working with Marfl ex of the Nether- lands and their U.S. agent Southern Electric Pumping Systems, variable frequency drive deepwell pumps have been introduced to several chemical and tank barge designs providing an alternative to historic hydraulic based cargo systems. Marfl ex was fi rst in- troduced to us during several product tanker construction projects in Korea where the builder understood the cost www.marinelink.com MN Nov14 Layout 50-65.indd 55 10/23/2014 10:38:49 AM
