05-06. MayJun 2022 issue-v2.qxp_Pages-12-40-JanFeb WPD 01/06/2022 12:39 Page 30
shore power
engineering
With PLUG, game changing cable management system, NG3 is making shore power even greener By Damien Féger , CEO at NG3
P
LUG, an acronym for Power Generation during Loading and Unloading, is an innovative shore power cable management system which was introduced to the market as early as 2011, to provide a 4.5 MVA 11 kVolt shore power connection
for the Color Magic ROPAX in Oslo, which was followed by the whole Color Line RoPax fleet, as well as the Hurtigruten and Havila RoPax vessels providing the Kysruten route service along the west coast of Norway. Its main design feature is that it was the world’s first fully “hands off” connection solution of this type of vessel, providing a safe, efficient alternative to solutions based on manual connectors. As soon as the vessel is at berth, the crew has simply to slide a beam out (above the quay) to which is attached the ship side power socket, and then lower a chain toward the quay side connector.
The chain is equipped with an automated hook at its end, which as soon as it is inserted and locked into the quay side connector, can hoist it, and the power cables attached to it, up towards the ship side socket. When it gets into the ship side socket, simple mechanical effects align the power exchanges contacts, so that when the chain is further hoisted up, the connection is established. With this self-mating/de-mating patented connector technology, direct handling of connector and cables is avoided, and operations can be performed by a single crew, within a few minutes. Beyond this obvious benefit in terms of safety and operational cost, in this period of resources scarcity and pressure to reduce emissions, it is worth pointing out the massive environmental gains brought by this technology.
SS2 in operation at Larvik.
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