New Volvo Penta D16 IMO III powers TSM Batz service vessel
Multipurpose service vessels like the new 24m TSM Batz have no ‘typical day’. One day can be crane loading at an island, the next day working submarines cables. No matter the task, this versatile vessel’s French owner, TSM Group, is steadfast in its commitment to minimizing environmental impacts.
The TSM Batz is one of the first vessels of its kind to be powered by a twin Volvo Penta D16 IMO Tier III solution. The new D16 MH/MG IMO Tier III propulsion packages are developed to sustain high backpressure while also maintaining efficiency and drivability. So operators who require the performance of advanced 16-liter marine engines can go about their work while meeting the latest most stringent IMO Tier III requirements – which stipulate reduced levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
The TSM BATZ, registered under the French flag, will be based in Brest and was built by Neptune Shipyards to TSM’s specific requirements for its Breton subsidiary IROISE MER TSM BATZ. The vessel is 24 meters long and 9 meters wide, equipped with fore and aft cranes, high-power winches and a 150m2 clear deck area.
“There is no ‘typical day’ for this versatile vessel,” says Loic Thomas, CEO, TSM Group and TSM Windcat. “The TSM Batz covers crane work on islands, submarine inspection, cable installation and repairs, salvage, plus carrier tasks – one of our clients even drops wine to rest in 40m of water for their finishing process.
“We chose to work with Volvo Penta because of the company’s good reputation for reliability. The company also has unrivaled integration of the after-treatment solution. Having one supplier for the propulsion package including the after-treatment solution is important to us.”
Power for the job(s)
The new upgraded and more powerful D16 package is the latest addition to the range of Volvo Penta IMO Tier III solutions. The D16 IMO III is a robust platform with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) solution that – in addition to it being tested and used broadly across the Volvo Group – has been adapted and optimized for marine use. This SCR solution has since racked up tens of thousands of hours across our D13 IMO III package (launched in 2017), D8 IMO III package (launched in 2019), and now this leading technology is available on the market in the new D16 IMO III package.
With two alternative exhaust outlets, the impressively compact system allows shipyards flexibility in configuration, for easy installation.
The D16 MH six-cylinder in-line package has increased power – 441 to 625 kW and 600 to 850 mhp – for continuous duty and heavy-duty applications. The high torque at low rpm means easy and powerful maneuverability and rapid acceleration. The additional power and robustness is also well suited to auxiliary engine duties.
The complete engine package is also available in various emission limit options: IMO II, IMO III, US EPA Tier 3, and China 2.
A long-term partnership
Both TSM and Volvo Penta recognize their responsibilities when it comes to reducing environmental impact. Volvo Penta has committed to exceeding today’s best practices – with solutions such as its IMO III packages – while in parallel innovating future sustainable technologies. And TSM has procedures in place to boost efficiency while reducing the use of resources and the impact on the environment – these include increased digitalization for fleet management and monitoring, and the anticipation of the latest emissions standards on new ship construction. This shared ethos has laid strong foundations for a long-term partnership between the two companies.
“The BATZ has a working life span of 30 years,” explains Loic. “We choose partners who have a similar environmental focus and who we can work with over the long term. We’ve found that in Volvo Penta and we’re excited about the future.”
Read more about our upgraded Volvo Penta D16 propulsion packages, available now.
Did you know?
All of our Volvo Penta diesel engines, including the new D16 MH/MG IMO Tier III propulsion packages, are verified for use with HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel. This means that reducing your vessel’s fossil fuel CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent is as easy as simply filling up with HVO (we recommend HVO 100) fossil-free fuel, instead of standard diesel.
Read about our top 5 considerations when switching to HVO 100 fuel.
