Newbuild pilot boat is Singapore’s first hybrid-powered vessel

Singapore shipbuilder Penguin International has completed construction of a new aluminium vessel for use by its own pilotage fleet.

The BV-classed Penguin Tenaga will be operated by Penguin alongside the company’s other workboats in support of Shell’s oil and petrochemicals refinery activities at Pulau Bukom island.

Penguin said the 15-metre pilot boat is the first hybrid-powered vessel built and operated and Singapore. It is capable of running on pure electric mode at seven knots for up to 25 minutes while conventional diesel mode will enable it to reach a maximum speed of 24 knots.

The hybrid system and controls were provided by BH Global Corporation, a Singapore-based electronics firm.

Electric power is stored in an energy storage system provided by Durapower Technology while ZF supplied the gearbox, shafts, and propellers.

Danfoss Editron, which supplied the vessel’s electric motors and inverters, expects that emissions reductions of up to 20 per cent can be achieved compared to traditional diesel-powered pilot boats.

Solar panels have also been installed on the roof of the pilothouse to generate electricity for recharging mobile devices and for supplementing the vessel’s hotel load.

The boat has seating for two operators and 12 pilots/passengers.