CAPTAIN’S REVIEW OF HYBRID BY HUISFIT

The decision to modernise Foftein, a 30m / 99ft Royal Huisman cutter (1999) with a 20-year-old propulsion and energy system was rooted in several fundamental considerations. Her captain Tim Jones explains all about his experiences with the new setup and tells of the benefits for her owner and all onboard.

We are setting the standard!

“Showing what could be achieved was the foundation on which the system was designed. It was essential for us to show that a 20-year-old yacht could be transformed into a state of the art superyacht that is ready to sail into a greener future. We are setting the standard! The additional design and installation challenges confronted in such a project required a lot of planning and investigation with the Royal Huisman team and engineers. 

Future-proofing

Planning for the future is arguable one of the most essential aspects of a successful business or life. We took this point of view seriously and designed a solid and reliable system with high quality, long-lasting components and the ability to be improved easily as the battery technology improves in the coming years, allowing for longer silent times and more silent miles.

Simplification

Simplification was a critical design brief for us. We wanted a highly automated system with a simple interface that allows the yacht to automatically manage the energy demands with minimal input or monitoring from the crew or owner. Royal Huisman has delivered a sleek and easy to operate system that minimises time, and maximises efficiency.

Redundancy

Backup systems and redundancy are essential in a global travelling yacht such as Foftein. There was no option to have two generators or two main engines with her modest-sized engine room and available space. With the hybrid energy system, we have mitigated these drawbacks by designing the system in such a way that it has double redundancy on almost every critical system. Main engine failure can be covered by the permanent magnet motor unit on the driveline, either running in full electric mode at 8 knots, or extending the range by running the variable speed generator in diesel-electric mode, offering days of non-stop cruising.

Running the main engine in diesel / generator mode provides us with the benefit of not having to run a separate generator to charge the two 700V lithium battery banks while covering the vessel’s hotel loads. We do this all at maximum efficiency with no wasted fuel, energy or adding run hours on the generator, reducing service intervals and maintenance costs.

AC blackout or dead ship is a situation no yacht crew wants to find themselves in. An automated system heavily reliant on programmable logic controllers (PLC) and programming may sound counterintuitive when speaking about redundancy. Superyacht crew all know PLC’s can sometimes refuse to corporate. Royal Huisman has delivered a system with well-layered emergency operation and recovery procedures that are easy to follow and quick to implement in the unlikely event of a PLC failure. We can run every system manually without PLC control. This was a key aspect and an essential layer in the system’s support and operation.

Efficiency

The importance of this system requirement could not be overlooked or compromised on in any way, whether it’s having the ability to regenerate power while sailing, or recovering heat from the engines and air-conditioning to provide hot water. We are utilising a frequency driven raw water system that adjusts pressure and flow when individual systems require it. As the world transitions to a more sustainable future, it’s our responsibility to push the boundaries and possibilities with energy efficiency.

Comfort

Providing a silent experience for the owner was made easier by building off the earlier foundations and requirements. Giving the owner a silent night while still enjoying all the comforts of an air-conditioned cabin is a game-changer for the quality of time and experience onboard. No longer do we have to put up with the constant noise and fumes of a generator running at minimal load or efficiency to provide the needed power. 1.5 Hours of generator charging can give us up to 8 hours of silent time, providing a truly unique experience onboard. The fast charge time can allow the crew to take advantage of running the generator when the owner is out paddle-boarding or taking a walk, improving the silent time dramatically.  The experience and enjoyment when Foftein silently departs the dock are unmistakable. Having the ability to depart the harbour under silent electric mode, hoist sails silently, then sail over the horizon while regenerating power, is an experience like no other.