With their joint 'Nova Hybrid' project, yacht-builder Heesen and mtu have taken propulsion technology one step further. At the beginning of July 2017, Heesen announced that it would be delivering its first fast displacement luxury yacht with hybrid propulsion – named HOME – to the owner. The 50-m aluminum yacht is powered by twin 12-cylinder Series 2000 M61 units and can attain speeds up to nine knots on the electric drive alone, making for completely noise-free travel. The combination of a 1,200 kW diesel drive with 220 kW electrical drive significantly increases comfort, acceleration, fuel economy and maneuverability for the yacht owner.
At mtu, electric motors and hybrid drives are to form a core element of marine propulsion in the years ahead. In developing an electrical drive solution for use in marine propulsion that is suitable for serial production, mtu harnessed not only the know-how it has acquired in project systems business in the marine segment, but also its wide-ranging experience in the field of rail applications. mtu’s hybrid drives for ships are modular in structure and various electrical outputs can be covered with series-production solutions depending on the diesel engine series on which they are based.
E-drive solutions from mtu offer an array of benefits – from lower running costs to greater on-board comfort, lower noise emissions, faster acceleration and good maneuverability. Serially produced E-drive solutions from mtu are fully qualified, with mtu automation ensuring the perfect interplay between mechanical and electrical components.
mtu’s cooperation with Dutch shipyard Heesen in the field of marine propulsion goes back for decades and has culminated in numerous superyachts powered by mtu engines that have won international prizes.
