The Switch, part of Yaskawa Electric Corporation, has delivered its first ever DC-Hub to Wightlink in the UK for installation into its newbuild diesel electric hybrid ferry.
In November last year, The Switch purchased Wärtsilä Drives in Norway, further strengthening its marine am[ds_preview]bitions by acquiring technology. Developed on the foundation of the firm’s established Power Drive solution, the new DC-Hub is a landmark for the business, according to Asbjørn Halsebakke, General Manager, The Switch Marine Drives Norway.
The current delivery will be installed by Wärtsilä on the 90 m newbuild vessel at the Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey. The craft boasts a capacity for 178 cars and more than 1,200 passengers. It is part of Wightlink’s 45 mill. GBP ‘Investing for the Future’ program, which is scheduled to begin operation in the Solent strait in the summer of 2018.
»We now have two new DC-Hub deliveries in the pipeline and see a huge potential for growth. This is especially true within the ferry segment, where there are increasing environmental demands from authorities, particularlyin Norway, and for offshore, where existing vessels can transform their energy efficiency with DC,« Halsebakke adds. In a sector that faces real challenges, this would be a much more cost-effective andenvironmentally friendly solution than fleet renewal.
The Switch originally made its name in the wind farm sector before moving into marine almost five years ago. The company, which has already received over 30 marine orders for its revolutionary permanent magnet shaft generator technology, believes its solutions can provide the same transformational benefits for shipping as they have for the wind industry.
