Bulk Carrier Ready for Extended Life Thanks to SCHOTTEL Modernization

Thanks to a customized modernization by the SCHOTTEL After Sales Team, the operability of the Norwegian bulk carrier Pirholm is secured for the coming decades. With comparatively low installation effort numerous advantages could be achieved, such as a significant speed improvement due to the new SCHOTTEL high-performance nozzle SDV45. This has reduced operating costs and fuel consumption enormously while further improving maneuverability, which is particularly important during service on fish farms.

“SCHOTTEL has convinced us by responding to our needs and finding an individual, custom-fit solution for the vessel,” states Nils Tore Øpstad Melingen, General Manager at vessel owner Bio Feeder AS. “We are absolutely satisfied with the performance of the SCHOTTEL thrusters and would always decide the same way again. Moreover, SCHOTTEL as an OEM guarantees the availability of spare parts for the next decades.”

Modernized by two SRPs 190

Originally equipped with two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 330, two new SCHOTTEL azimuth thrusters type SRP 190 have been installed to modernize the 26 year old fish food carrier. Since the SCHOTTEL solution could be integrated into the existing steel structure of the former propulsion system, no hull changes or major steel work were necessary. In addition, the work could be carried out by a local shipyard – reducing installation costs and shortening downtime tremendously.

New nozzles optimizing vessel’s efficiency

The newly installed rudderpropellers are equipped with the SDV45 high-performance nozzles developed by SCHOTTEL. These generate more thrust and thus improve course-keeping ability and position stability many times over. Furthermore, the SCHOTTEL VarioDuct nozzles ensure that maneuverability and free running have optimized. All in all, the new propulsion units do not only lead to a significant speed improvement and reduced fuel consumption, but also to considerably lower operating costs.

The Norwegian bulk carrier supplies fish feed to fish farms in the North Sea. Pirholm, built 1993 at Rosslauer Schiffswerft, measures an overall length of 75m and a width of 11m.