Volvo Penta powers marine operations for north German state

The Hooge tug-boat is powered by twin Volvo Penta D9 MH 221 kW engines, and is operated by the Schleswig-Holstein state government.

Following several years’ successful use of vessels installed with Volvo Penta engines, the Schleswig-Holstein state government in northern Germany has begun using a new tug boat, powered by one of the Swedish manufacturer’s 9-liter engine models. The vessel is based in the port of Husum and has been in operation since May 2018; it is used for coastal and oil pollution surveillance, as well as tug-boat activities in the North Sea. The boat, named ‘Hooge’ in honor of an island near Husum, was built by the SET Tangermunde shipyard, and is installed with twin Volvo Penta D9 MH engines, providing 221 kW at 1800 rpm. It also uses a 7-liter Volvo Penta marine genset for onboard operations.

“We were tasked with designing and creating the Hooge, and in selecting an engine, the aspects we needed to consider were the amount of power required, the weight, fuel consumption and the price,” says Olaf Peters, managing director of SET Tangermunde.

“There is a good relationship between our shipyard, Volvo Penta and the Schleswig-Holstein government, and as the state authority has other vessels with Volvo Penta engines in its fleet, it knew it would be getting a suitable tug-boat with the appropriate aftermarket service from Volvo Penta.”

Reliable in all weather
The relationship between the three organizations began in 2014 when the shipyard built an oil pollution surveillance vessel for the Schleswig-Holstein government to be used in the Baltic Sea. The first vessel, named ‘Haithabu’ in honor of a Viking trading location near what is now the city of Schleswig, was installed with twin D16 MH 441 kW engines and twin D7 gensets. In 2016, a second oil pollution surveillance vessel was built, equipped with twin D16 MH 221 kW engines and a D7 genset.

The Hooge, along with the first two vessels, have to be reliable in all weather, and typically the engines are in operation for up to 12 hours per day.

“The performance of the Hooge has been very good so far,” says Wolfgang Jeger, managing director of the technical department for the Schleswig-Holstein government, in Husum. “We have discussed all our requirements with the shipyard and Volvo Penta, and also had good help from Volvo Penta’s dealer center. We will continue to look at new options for the future.”

The developments between the companies are set to continue.

“Volvo Penta has established a solid relationship with the SET Tangermunde shipyard and the Schleswig-Holstein state government over several years,” says Juergen Kuehn, a salesperson at Volvo Penta’s German office. “We create engines that are robust and reliable, and their success in these vessels allows the state authority to carry out its coastal operations efficiently and effectively. We look forward to continued collaboration.”