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The first in a series of five very advanced Coast Guard vessels has reached its final port destination in Falkenberg at the West coast of Sweden.

With the help of Volvo Penta’s innovative propulsion system the ships are expected to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 30% compared to traditional installations.

After successful test runs at the Baltic Sea with the Baltic Workboat in Estonia and subsequent naming ceremony at the end of May 2012 bears the ship KBV312 now the flag of Sweden. It is the first ship in a series of five versatile coastguard vessels which will be used primarily for maritime surveillance, border control, and fisheries control, protection of the environment, rescue and civil protection, monitoring and diving operations.

Efficient Propulsion system and great fuel savings

To give the vessel the best overall performance the highly efficient Volvo Penta IPS 1050 complete propulsion system was selected. The system consists of triple Volvo Penta IPS 1050 based on 3 x D13-800 Rating 4 engines at 588 kW each, giving at total propulsion power of 1764 kw and 3 x IPS 3 fully integrated pod units ( gearbox, exhaust system, rudder and steering machinery).

The very low fuel consumption over the whole speed range is said to be creating significant cost savings for the Swedish Coast Guard and with reduced CO2 and NOx emissions the environmental impact will also be reduced. The engines are already meeting the EPA tier 3 emission levels in force 2014. The system is type approved by DNV.

During test trials the vessel reached a speed of 32 knots fully loaded and the time to accelerate from idle to 20 knots was only 7.5 seconds.

High manoeuvrability and low noise

The steerable IPS pod units with forward facing contra rotating propellers give very good grip in the water without slip and create an active rudder control with all thrust pointing in the desired direction. The good grip and the unbeatable low end torque are used to create good acceleration in all sea conditions and allow the vessel to steer sharply without cavitation and loss of speed.

The combination of twin turbo engine and Volvo Penta Duoprop technology provides the vessel with a very good bollard pull, above 10 tons, which is very useful for a vessel in search and rescue operations.

New Joystick driving, autopilot interface and integrated bridge control

The KBV312 is equipped with the latest in Volvo Penta’s electronic vessel control EVC-E. In addition to the successful Joystick docking and dynamic positioning features, the KBV312 is also equipped with Joystick driving and steering at cruising. No steering wheel is used and the joystick is comfortable incorporated in the armrest of the helmsman’s chair. In addition, the vessel is equipped with three joystick docking positions as wheel as a full engine room control station.

The EVC-E system is connected to an integrated bridge control (Integrated Alarm Monitoring and Control System - IAMCS) through a newly developed interface from Volvo Penta. All alarm and monitoring, alarm acknowledgement and rudder indication is handled on the IAMCS display.

A new Autopilot interface connects the EVC steering control to the vessels autopilot, with easy and safe connection and disconnection.

Fire fight mode

Another new EVC feature is that the main centre engine can be disconnected from normal driving during harbour manoeuvres, so that the engine power can be used to power the vessels fire pump used for external fire fighting. During fire fight mode, the vessel can be operated with the outer engines with the joystick or the normal control handles, to give the flexibility to operate in any sea and wind conditions.

Five vessels in total

This first vessel will be followed by four more vessels during the coming year, to be stationed around the Swedish coast. The Volvo Penta IPS system is now well established in patrol, pilot, off-shore service vessels and people transportation operations. In all, totally over 14000 IPS units have been delivered worldwide, mainly in leisure applications, but now starting to be one of the important propulsion alternatives in commercial applications to save fuel and reduce environmental impact with regard to exhaust emissions and noise.

Main data of the vessel

LOA= 25.5 m, Max Beam=6,2m, Draught 1.5m. Full load displacement 52 t. Total power 1764 kW, Speed at full load 32 knots, Range > 600Nm