Diesel electric on the North Sea

While diesel-electric propulsion continues to garner converts in North America, it is a more usual system in Europe.

The noted Danish operator of emergency response/rescue vessels, ESVAGT, took delivery of four diesel-electric vessels from the ASL-Marine yard in Singapore in 2007. Two more of the sister-ships will follow in 2008. As with the rest of the ESVAGT fleet, the new vessels are a bright red. Moreover, like the rest of the fleet they have the distinctive raised fo'c'sle design of boats ready for heavy seas. The first of the six boat series, the 'Esvagt Carpathia', is named in honour of the 'SS Carpathia' that was the first ship on the scene after the sinking of the Titanic and took aboard 700 survivors. A fitting name for this stout 45.8 by 11.5 metre rescue vessel with accommodation for a crew of 12 and space for up to 300 survivors. The diesel-electric system is well suited to the application as the vessel spends much of its time in a stand-by mode.

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