Hamburg, 24th August 2007: SAM Electronics, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, New York, has set a milestone for European ports with a contract to supply an On-shore Power Supply (OPS) facility for the Independent Maritime Terminal (IMT), Antwerp. The contract has been awarded by the terminal owner, ICL Holding of Hamburg.
The facility will typically enable up to three container vessels to connect to it for approximately three days within any one week while berthing, allowing their auxiliary diesel motors to be disconnected and so significantly reduce noxious NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions.
Newly developed by SAM, the OPS system ensures uninterrupted supply of 800 kVA electrical power to vessels while in port. This is possible through use of a Static 3 Phase AC Converter which has already been successfully installed as a Shaft Alternator in Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) technology. Power to vessels is also converted to meet the requirements of 50 and 60 Hz standard requirements in Europe and other countries. As such, the system will be the first onshore power supply facility with automatic synchronisation and 50/60 Hz conversion to be commissioned in Europe.
As part of installation work, newbuild vessels for International Container Lines will be equipped with a 60 HZ network as well as necessary OPS components such as a 6600V / 450V transformer, a 6600V medium voltage supply station and a cable drum. Construction work for the OPS is due to commence this September and is scheduled for completion in August 2008.
Meanwhile, SAM Electronics is currently developing larger comparable onshore power supply systems for port use based on advanced PWM technology.
