Hydroniq Coolers with early supply to Washington State ferry

Hydroniq Coolers has been appointed to deliver its Rack seawater cooling system to the newbuild ferry. The Rack seawater cooler is normally integrated into the hull beneath the vessel’s main engine room, where it reduces the temperature of the main engine and auxiliary systems using seawater, without occupying valuable engine room space.

Installation ready

For this particular vessel, available space is no major issue. As a result, the main contractor and the shipyard have ordered a complete, ready-to-install Rack seawater cooler with multiple freshwater systems, including the steel enclosure that is typically built by the shipyard as an integrated part of the engine room structure.

"This is a smart plug-and-play approach. We manufacture the entire enclosure and deliver a complete, fully assembled package. In practice this means that once the box is welded to the floor and the water flanges are connected, the system is ready for operation. This is especially valuable for shipyards with stretched workshop capacity, as well as vessel projects where minimizing engine room installation work is a priority,” says Lars Elling Gloppholm, sales manager at Hydroniq Coolers.

Subcontractor to W&O

Hydroniq Coolers delivers the Rack cooling system as subcontractor to W&O, a SunSource Company which has been contracted by Eastern Shipbuilding Group to deliver the complete marine cooling system to the newbuild ferry.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s yard in Panama City, Florida, has been chosen to build the ferry, plus two others, for Washington State Ferries. Eastern Shipbuilding Group is expected to deliver the first ferry in 2030. The ferry is designed by Elliot Bay.

“This is the first time in the history of our company that we have delivered a seawater cooling system four years prior to the vessel delivery date. We would like to commend W&O, the shipyard and the shipowner for their forward-looking approach. By engaging early and selecting a fully integrated installation solution, they have reduced complexity during construction, shortened installation time, and minimized the need for yard resources. The result is a more efficient vessel build and a lower-risk project for all parties involved,” says Inge Bøen, CEO of Hydroniq Coolers.

Electrification

The vessel will form an important part of Washington State Ferries’ efforts to replace its aging ferry fleet while reducing emissions through battery-electric propulsion and shoreside charging.

The newbuild ferry will measure approximately 409 feet, 6 inches long with an83-foot, 2-inch beam and will be capable of carrying 160 standard passenger vehicles and up to 1,500 passengers.

ICAFsystem

The Rack seawater cooler that is delivered by W&O to Eastern Shipbuilding Group is made with titanium tube bundles which benefit from low maintenance requirements and long service life.

The Rack system is also equipped with an impressed current anti-fouling (ICAF) system, which protects the tube bundles and seawater circuit from marine growth. By applying a controlled electrical current to copper anodes, the system releases copper ions that prevent fouling and biofilm build-up. This helps maintain cooling performance, reduces cleaning requirements and minimizes maintenance throughout the system's lifetime.

Bundle #1,500

Coincidentally,one of the tube bundles that form the Rack seawater cooler for the Washington State-bound ferry is bundle number 1,500 that is manufactured and delivered by Hydroniq Coolers.

“To hit the 1,500 bundles milestone on a project of such innovative nature is quite fitting for this delivery,” adds Lars Elling Gloppholm.

Hydroniq Coolers has manufactured and assembled the Rack seawater cooler at its headquarters on Ellingsøy, outside Ålesund, Norway.