Funding Received to Develop Clean Engine Technology

Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition 4: Powering Small Craft with a Novel Ammonia Engine

Solent University, Southampton, Osprey Research Limited and Pascoe International Limited have been awarded £300,000 Government funding to develop clean engine technology for powering small vessels with a new type of engine using ammonia as a fuel.

The project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.

The small-craft industry has traditionally used engines based their automotive counterparts. Changes to automotive technology, with manufacturers moving to electric or hydrogen propulsion, means that many are no longer in development, creating supply issues which are already impacting some small craft manufacturers.

Whilst pure electrical power or hydrogen may provide a viable solution for many applications, carrying sufficient energy in smaller, faster sea going craft can present weight and internal storage issues. In the longer-term ammonia may provide a more feasible energy source to allow the use of internal combustion engines whilst achieving zero carbon emissions. The project will therefore use the funding to create a compact, lightweight but powerful internal combustion engine which will run on ammonia - featuring innovative technology to address some of the known issues with the fuel.

Andrew Barnes, Managing Director of Osprey Research Ltd, a specialist designer and developer of clean, efficient and compact engines intended for marine and off-highway use, says “Future marine propulsion will require a mix of technologies to suit the broad range of marine applications.  The internal combustion engine provides a robust and proven solution, the issue is the fuel.  However, moving away from carbon-based fuels to zero carbon fuels, such as ammonia, requires more than just re-calibrating an existing engine.  The basic operation of the engine itself needs to be re-evaluated.  This project allows us to look at a significant change to the basic engine architecture in a way we couldn’t otherwise justify.”.

The project will also assess the impact of the engine on a representative design for a small craft to be used aboard superyachts. The results will be used to determine the overall environmental impact of the installation in a representative small craft.

Richard Watson, Managing Director of Pascoe International Ltd, an award-winning designer and builder of luxury superyacht tenders says: “We are committed to leading the superyacht market in the development and real-world integration of alternative fuel technologies. We see our work to develop fully electric solutions across our range as a step towards an industry no longer reliant on fossil fuels – zero carbon fuels unlock the next phase of lighter, longer-range vessels. The collaborative nature of this exciting project allows us to ensure that the installation and operation of emergent technologies are considered at an early stage, accelerating the time to market.”

All the information and data gathered will be used to assess the technical and economic feasibility of ammonia engines in small craft, and how it might be used aboard small craft.

Solent University will undertake the Life Cycle Analysis to determine the overall impact, as well as hydrodynamic testing to establish the performance and fuel requirements when installed in the vessel.

Professor James Knowles, Vice-Chancellor of Solent University, said “This seed-funding provides an ideal opportunity to solve a pressing and serious challenge to the small craft industry. The project shows the real benefits of collaboration between industry and university research. Our findings will be used to develop and drive clean marine technology and its implementation in industry and help educate the next generations of naval architects and marine engineers. The maritime industry represents 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the reduction of this carbon footprint offers global societal benefit, meeting the objectives of the university in improving the lives of all its communities”.

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Notes for Editors

Osprey Research Limited is a specialist designer and developer of clean, efficient and compact engines intended for marine and off-highway use. They have experience in designing, developing and testing alternative fuel and novel design engines.

Pascoe International Ltd is an award-winning designer and builder of luxury superyacht tenders, with a range of vessels used on some of the most prestigious and largest superyachts. Having built over 200 vessels, they are considered industry leaders in this field.

Solent University is a leading university in the maritime field, with specialist courses in yacht and small craft design, superyacht naval architecture and renewable energy engineering. It is also home to the world-renowned Warsash Maritime School, which provides education and training to seafarers around the world.

In March 2022, the UK Government announced the biggest government investment ever in our UK commercial maritime sector, allocating £206m to UK SHORE, a new programme within the Department for Transport focused on decarbonising the maritime sector. UK SHORE is delivering a suite of interventions throughout 2022-2025 aimed at accelerating the design, manufacture and operation of UK-made clean maritime technologies and unlocking an industry-led transition to Net Zero. The UK SHORE programme includes the flagship multi-year Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) which provides match-funding to help bring pre-commercial technologies closer to market readiness. CMDC4 allocated £33m to 33 projects across the UK to deliver demonstrations, pre-deployment trials and feasibility studies between April 2024 – March 2025. The projects are supported by over 120 partners and will leverage more than £16m of private investment.

CMDC4 follows the successful first three rounds of the CMDC, which allocated over £95m to 105 projects. CMDC1 was launched in 2021, prior to UK SHORE.

Released: e-Limousine 100% Electric Tender

Pascoe International e-Limousine Press Release

Swanwick, Hampshire, UK - 4th January 2022. Pascoe International announces the sale of the world’s first 100% electric superyacht limousine tender. Pascoe International can confirm that the first fully electric limousine tender is now under construction and will be delivered in 2023 to a large new build mothership from a major Northern European shipyard. Following a six-year research and development period, Pascoe International is now offering full electric propulsion for their limousines and open guest tenders.

Pascoe International’s technical team have been studying the viability of electric-tender propulsion in collaboration with expert advisors and research partners for many years. During this process they have carried out extensive R&D on hull design, motor integration, battery performance and whole-system optimisation. Partners include automotive electrification specialists, propeller designers, battery manufacturers and leading university research teams.

Tom Southern, Vice President at Pascoe International commented: “The realisation of a zero-emission at point of use Limousine Tender with a top speed of 40 knots and a maximum range of 60 miles will be a defining moment for the superyacht industry. The e-Limousine truly signifies the beginning of a new wave of luxury water-borne travel and a move away from internal combustion propulsion systems in the superyacht sector.”

With an ever-increasing focus on sustainability, this project will mark the start of a new era for yachting. At a time when stricter emissions regulations are being introduced across the globe, the zero-emission Pascoe Tenders will be a showcase of advanced marine technology from launch and for many years to come.

For a yacht owner and their guests, the appeal of an electric limousine tender is not just environment-related. Whilst considerable fossil fuel savings are achieved by charging the tender from the ship’s own power generation systems compared to running the tender directly on diesel, there are other key advantages. These include a near total removal of torsional vibration transmitted into the hull structure, considerable reduction in noise (both inside the cabin and outside the tender), a significant increase in acceleration due to the torque profile of the electric motors and of course the knowledge that they are leading the global shift to zero-emission at point of use technologies.

The Pascoe e-Limousine based on the company’s award-winning SL platform uses the latest oil-cooled electric motors, but these are just one part of the equation. Ensuring the most efficient transfer of power from the motor to the water is one of the critical areas that will set the e-Limousine apart from any other craft currently in use or indeed under development elsewhere. The sophisticated electrification system incorporates the latest advancements in propulsion technology. Pascoe International have partnered with experts in marine propulsion to develop a new drive system that provides optimum propulsion efficiency whilst removing the noise and vibration associated with a conventional stern-drive. The e-Limousine drive will offer precise joystick docking and unprecedented improvements in comfort levels for guests travelling on-board.

With over 250 projects delivered since the company was founded in 2004, Pascoe International has unrivalled experience in the design, integration and understanding of the operational profiles of modern superyacht tenders. Using data collected from the 27 Pascoe Limousines in active service to define the typical use profile of large guest tenders, it is evident that fully electric guest tenders are now a viable and far superior alternative to combustion fuelled craft. In 2023, the first e-Limousine will be delivered to a large yacht currently under construction at a prestigious shipyard.

Revealed: Pascoe tenders at the Monaco Yacht Show

The most prestigious event in the superyacht calendar is almost here & preparations are well underway for the 29th Monaco Yacht Show which will take place in the iconic Port Hercules from Wednesday 25th – Saturday 28th September.

Pascoe have been exhibiting at the Monaco Yacht Show since 2004 and in their 16th year will once again have a significant presence with three tenders on display including the stunning 9.6m Limousine from the recently launched CRN 79m, Mimtee.  The SL Limousine is one of 3 Pascoe delivered to Mimtee, also onboard are an 8.6m DT Beachlander and 6.2m SOLAS Rescue Tender.

Following the overwhelming reception of the 10m Open Limousine last year (T/T Elandess) Pascoe have decided to exhibit the newest 10m Open Limousine which features the latest technologies including a Seakeeper stabilizer which provides unbelievable levels of comfort when underway.

Pascoe will also be displaying a striking SY10 Open. This high-performance SY10 is powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 400R which give a top speed of over 80 mph! Crew and guests are ensured an exhilarating experience from the shock-mitigating seating and this craft has the highest specification sound system on any Pascoe delivered to date with no less than 18 speakers. The SY10 is based upon Ocke Manerfelt’s B28 racing hull with Ken Freivokh styled superstructure, the perfect combination of performance and luxury.  

Not only will Pascoe be displaying three tenders at the stand, there will also be 10 Pascoe tenders onboard the following exhibiting yachts:
 

Aurora Borealis Amels

Bliss Palmer Johnson

Elixir Amels

Grace Amels                  

Mimtee CRN

SYZGY 818 Feadship

The Pascoe triple stand will be conveniently positioned at Quan Jarlan, stand number QJ19. For further information or to schedule a meeting ahead of the show please email the team at sales@pascoeinternational.com.