SAM Electronics complies

with the growing Market

SAM Electronics complies

with the growing Market

There is a growing trend in the market for

electrical propulsion concepts. Converter fed
propulsion systems offer advantages for ships
with following special requirements:
n Low noise and vibration
n Maximum pay-Ioad capacity and optimal
utilization of available space
n Economical operation
n Essential higher reliability, dependability and
availability
n Flexible use of the torque-speed characteristic
n Excellent dynamic characteristics
n High mains quality
n Reduced emissions
n High degree of automation
n Reduced wear and tear
Depending on the required grade of redundancy
and depending on the operational profil of the
vessel LCI converter (synchro-converter) or PWM

converter systems with synchronous motors or

with induction motors are well proven and
reliable solutions for propulsion systems.
Since 1966 SAM Electronics with their system
division Drives and Special Systems, carrying on
the technology and industry traditions of its
predecessor AEG Marine branch, has delivered
more than 200 converter fed propulsion drives for
more than 85 ships.

LCI Converter System

Frequency converters with line controlled inverters
(LCI converters respectively synchro-converters)
are provided for supply of synchronous motors
with following advantages:
n For highest power available
n Acceleration and braking in both direction of
rotations (four quadrant operation) without
additional measures

PWM Converter System

Frequency converters with pulse-width modulation
(PWM converters) are provided for supply of
asynchronous or synchronous motors with
following advantages:
n Low level of air gap pulsation which results in
a low vibration level
n Acceleration and breaking in both direction of
rotations (four quadrant operation) with active
front end converter or reverse power resistor
n Small volume and weight
n High torque in low speed ranges

Single line digramm of electric propulsion system on Silver Spirit with LCI converter drives 2 x 8.5 MW, 24-pulses (48-pulse for both shaft lines)

Cruise Liners Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and

Seabourn Quest
The new cruise liners were delivered by the Italian
shipyard T.Mariotti in Genoa (newbuildings MAR
062-64) to Seaborn Cruise Line, the ultra luxury
brand of Miami-based Carnival Corporation, in
2009, 2010 and 2011.
Each of the hulls is 198 m long, with a beam of
25.6 m and a draft of 6.4 m, to operate at a
service speed of 19 knots. The first vessel
Seabourn Odyssey is the first new ship for
Seabourn in over five years, about 90% of the
ships suites have private verandas.

Scope of supply
n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:
- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
7.5 MW, 170 rpm,
- 2 Synchro-converters 24/12-pulses with
2 redundant excitation and control systems
in master/slave configuration,
- 4 Cast resin propulsion transformers
5.4/2x2.7 MVA.
n 4 Diesel alternators 8920 kVA, 6.6 kV, 60 Hz,
720 rpm
n 2 Thruster motors 800 kW, 6.6 kV, 900 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 12 + 11 panels for
high voltage distribution
n 3 Cast resin transformers 2 x 4.5 MVA and
1 x 1 MVA for low voltage mains supply

Cruise Liner Silver Spirit

The cruise liner Silver Spirit was delivered
by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri in Ancona
(newbuilding 6178) to the ultra-luxury operator
Silversea Cruises in 2009. With a displacement of
36000 tons, a length of 196 m and cabins for
540 passengers it is a small size cruise liner.

This newbuilding is the first one for Silversea

Cruises since 1998 when contracting Silver
Shadow and Silver Whisper, the award-winning
vessels entered into service in 2000 and 2001,
respectively. Silversea Cruises is recognized as an
innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests

large-ship amenities aboard their intimate

vessels, all designed to offer an atmosphere of
conviviality and casual elegance. For the ninth
year, Silversea was named Number One smallship line in the 2005 Readers Choice survey
conducted by Cond Nast Traveler magazine. For
the sixth time, Silversea was selected Worlds
Best small-ship line in the 2004 Travel + Leisure
readers poll.

Scope of supply
n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:
- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
8.5 MW, 150 - 160 rpm,
- 2 Synchro-converters 24/12-pulses with
2 redundant excitation and control systems
in master/slave configuration,
- 4 Oil propulsion transformers 5.3/2x2.65 MVA
n 4 Diesel alternators 7875 kVA, 6.6 kV, 60 Hz,
600 rpm
n 2 Thruster motors 1 MW, 6.6 kV, 1200 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 15 + 14 panels for
high voltage distribution
n 8 Cast resin transformers 3 x 2.7 MVA,
4 x 1.2 MVA and 1 x 0.9 MVA for low voltage
mains supply

Fleet Oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser

The fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J.
Kaiser (T-AO 187), the first of an 18 ship series
with a length of 207 m, a displacement of
41400 tons and a service speed of 20 knots, was
originally built by Avandale Shipyard in New
Orleans, Louisiana/USA for the Military Sealift
Command (MSC) already in 1986. Their combined
shaft alternator and electric shaft propulsion
systems have an output of 2 x 2.5 MW. For
improvement of the system performance the US
navy decided to renew the existing converter
systems. The conversion was provided by the
Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, Oregon/
USA in 2008.
SAM, with its worldwide reputation for design
and delivery of proven synchroconverter systems,
was ideally placed to secure the order. The first
ship to be equipped was USNS Henry J. Kaiser.
Options for outfitting the remaining five vessels
have also been agreed.

Scope of supply
n

2 Synchro-converters 6/6-pulses with excitation

and control systems for shaft alternator/
electric propulsion system 2.5 MW, 900 1200 rpm in generator operation and 2.5 MW,
900 rpm in propulsion operation
n 2 Duplex reactors for reduction of harmonics
n 2 Reactive power generation filters

Cruise Liner Seven Seas Voyager

The cruise liner Seven Seas Voyager was
delivered by the Italian shipyard T.Mariotti in
Genoa (newbuilding MAR001) in 2003 to V.Ships
Leisure in Monaco and is operated by Radisson
Seven Seas Cruises.
With a displacement of 46500 tons, a length of
200m and cabins for 720 passengers it is a
medium size cruise liner with very special

features as follows:
Innovative propulsion system with DOLPHIN
pod drives which were developmed together
with The Netherlands company Wrtsil
Propulsion, one of the market leaders in
propulsion systems
n Excellent manoeuvring characteristic of the
vessel by 360 rotation angle of the podded
propulsors
n

n High availability by pretentious redundancy

with 2 independent converters per pod drive
each with a separate excitation and control
system
n Very low distortions generated by the
propulsion system due to 24-pulses characteristic
without filter systems

Scope of supply

n 2 Diesel electric DOLPHIN podded drives,

propellers, azimuth steering drives with
hydraulic power packs including:
- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
7 MW, 170 rpm,
- 2 Synchro-converters 24/12-pulses each
with 2 redundant excitation and control
systems in master/slave configuration,
- 4 Cast resin propulsion transformers 4.5 MVA
n 4 Diesel alternators 7.2 MVA, 6.6 kV, 60 Hz,
600 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 14 + 13 panels for
high voltage distribution
n 8 Cast resin transformers 1.25 - 3.75 MVA for
low voltage mains supply
n 2 Thruster motors 1.1 MW, 6.6 kV, 1200 rpm
n 1 Joystick control system

Co-operation in Podded Propulsion

Cruise Liner Aurora

The cruise liner was delivered by the German
shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg (newbuilding
640) to the English owner P&O Cruises and was
named in Southampton by Princess Anne as
member of the British royalty to the tradition
name Aurora. The Aurora is a sister vessel of
the Oriana delivered five years ago but with
increased size and diesel electric instead of the
diesel mechanic propulsion system and is
operated worldwide.
With a displacement of 76000 tons and with 939
cabins the vessel has the same size as the Costa
Victoria, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun
with following advantages of the
propulsion system:
n High availability by pretentious redundancy
concept with 2 independent converters per
propulsion drive each with a separate
excitation, control and water cooling unit. In
case of a converter failure the propeller can be
operated by the remaining converter with an
increased torque of 70% for maintaining the
vessels time schedule
n Innovative system design without converter
fuses
n Outstanding mains quality and very low
distortions generated by the propulsion
system due to filter circuits on the 6.6 kV
bus bar
n Reduced cable effort due to configuration
with ring main substations with low voltage
power bus system
n Optimised service concept by telediagnosis of
the relevant propulsion system data via
Inmarsat satellite from the vessel to SAM
Electronics

Scope of supply

n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:

- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
20 MW, 140 rpm
- 2 Synchro-converters 12/12-pulses each
with 2 redundant cooling and control
systems in master/slave configuration
- 8 Cast resin propulsion transformers 8.4 MVA
n 6 Diesel alternators 4 x 17.5 MVA, 6.6 kV,
60 Hz, 514 rpm and 2 x 1.25 MVA, 690 V, 60 Hz,
1800 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 11 + 12 panels for
high voltage distribution

n 4 Harmonic filter banks reducing the voltage

harmonics (THD) to 5%
n 8 Ring main substation units 4 x 1.5 MVA and
4 x 1.1 MVA incl. cast resin transformers and
high and low voltage switchboards for low
voltage mains supply
n 5 Cast resin transformers 1.25 - 1.8 MVA for
engine room and emergency switchboard
supply
n 7 AC motors 4 x 1.5 MW, 6.6 kV, 1200 rpm for
thrusters and 3 x 1.35 MW, 6.6 kV, 3600 rpm
for air-condition compressors
n Navigation system

Cruise Liners Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky

The cruise liners Norwegian Sun and Norwegian
Skywere delivered by the German shipyard Lloyd
Werft in Bremerhaven to Norwegian Cruise Line
(NCL) and are operated worldwide.
With 259 m the length of the cruise liners were
enlarged compared with Costa Victoria with the
same advantages of the propulsion system for
the overall layout of the vessel.

Scope of supply

n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:

- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
15 MW, 135 rpm,
- 2 Synchro-converters 12/12-pulses at
Norwegian Sun respectively 12/24-pulses
at Norwegian Sky with 3 excitation systems
- 4 Cast resin propulsion transformers 9.7 MVA
n 6 Diesel alternators 3 x 12.4 MVA and 3 x
10.7 MVA, 10 kV, 60 Hz, 400 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 10 kV with 21 + 22 panels for
high voltage distribution
n 4 Harmonic filter banks reducing the voltage
harmonics (THD) to 5% on Norwegian Sun
n 8 (on Norwegian Sun) respectively 16 (on
Norwegian Sky) cast resin transformers for
low voltage main supply
n 5 Thruster motors 1.7 MW, 10 kV, 1200 rpm
n 4 AC motors 1.2 MW, 10 kV, 3600 rpm for
air-condition compressors on Norwegian Sky
n Low voltage substations in each fire zone
n Low voltage power distribution via Primary
Power Bus system including back up bus for
5400 A to ensure emergency supply to all fire
zones at Norwegian Sun
n Complete cable network
n Light and sound system
n Power management and alarm & monitoring
system
n Communication and navigation system
n Safety and security system

Cruise Liner Costa Victoria

The cruise liner Costa Victoria was delivered by
the German shipyard Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven
to the Italian owner Costa Crociere and is
operated in the Caribbean in winter time and in
the Mediterranean in summer time.
With a displacement of 76000 tons, a length of
253 m and cabins for 2250 passengers the cruise
liner is among the largest in the world. The
concept of the propulsion system has following
advantages for the overall layout of the vessel:
n Increased number of passenger cabins by
reduced volume and decentralised installation
of the propulsion system components
n Optimised cable lengths and minimised effort
for engineering and installation of the cabling
by economic arrangement of the propulsion
system with synchro-converter boards above
the propulsion motors and propulsion
switchboards above the diesel generator sets
n High cruising comfort with low noise and
low vibration operation by mounting of the
diesel generator sets resiliently, low torque
pulsation by 12-pulses supply of the
propulsion motors
n Economical, safe and flexible operation by 6
medium speed diesel generator sets with
different output ratings

Scope of supply

n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with

- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
15 MW, 135 rpm
- 2 Synchro-converters 24/12-pulses with
3 excitation systems
- 4 Cast resin propulsion transformers 9.7 MVA
n 6 Diesel alternators 3 x 12.4 MVA and 3 x
10.7 MVA, 10 kV, 60 Hz, 400 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 10 kV with 21 + 22 panels for
high voltage distribution

n 16 Cast resin transformers 0.9 - 2.4 MVA for

low voltage mains supply
n 9 AC motors 5x1.7 MW, 10 kV, 1200 rpm for
thrusters and 4 x 1.2 MW, 10 kV, 3600 rpm for
air-condition compressors
n Low voltage substations in each fire zone
n Low voltage power distribution
n Complete cable network
n Light and sound system
n Power management and alarm & monitoring
system
n Communication and navigation system

RoRo/Passenger Ferries Robin Hood and Nils Dacke

The two cargo and passenger ferries Robin Hood
and Nils Dacke were delivered by the Finnish
shipyard Finnyards in Rauma (newbuildings 410
and 411), to the Hamburg TT-Line and are

operated in daily line service in the Baltic Sea

between Travemnde in Germany and Trelleborg
in Sweden.

These ferries are among the most modern in the

world providing the novel propulsion concept for
this type of ship with diesel-electric AC drives
with the following benefits:
n Maximised loading capacity to 2400 m
trailer lanes due to installation of the diesel
generator sets in the watertight side
compartments, reduced volume and
decentralised installation of the propulsion
system components
n More economic operation with especially
good efficiency at partial load of the
propulsion system
n Reduced emission and reduced fuel consump tion due to operation of diesel engines with
constant speed in the optimal operating
range, even when the propulsion plant is
operating at partial load

Scope of supply
n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:
- 2 Double winding synchronous motors
6.5 MW, 120 - 135 rpm,
- 2 Synchro-converters 12/12-pulses each
with 2 redundant control systems in master/
slave configuration,
- 4 Cast resin propulsion transformers 4.2 MVA
n 4 Diesel alternators 5.7 MVA, 6.6 kV, 50 Hz,
500 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 2 x 8 panels for
high voltage distribution
n 2 Cast resin transformers 2.4 MVA for low
voltage mains supply
n 2 Thruster motors 1.2 MW, 6.6 kV, 1000 rpm
n Switchboards 400 V and 230 V with 45 panels
for mains and emergency supply
n Power management and alarm & monitoring
system
n Navigation system

10

Double End Ferries Coastal Renaissance,

Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration
The double end ferries Coastal Renaissance,
Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration
were delivered by the German shipyard
Flensburger Schiffbau- Gesellschaft (FSG) in
Flensburg (newbuilding 733 - 735) to the
Canadian operator British Columbia Ferry Services
(BC Ferries) in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
One important milestone of BC Ferries during
their major fleet replacement program was the
development of the new double end ferry class to
replace their existing C-Class vessels. The final
design of the ships called the BCF Super Class
Ferries are actually the worlds largest double end
ferries with a displacement of 22000 tons, a
length of 160 m, trailer lanes of 2020 m and a
passenger capacity of 1620. Set up in 1960 BC
Ferries has become the largest passenger ferry
line in North America and the second largest in
the world.

Scope of supply
n 2 Diesel electric main propulsion drives with:

- 2 Asynchronous motors 11 MW, 720 rpm,

- 2 Soft starters with control systems
n 4 Diesel alternators 4.8 MVA, 6.6 kV, 60 Hz,
720 rpm with an overload capacity of 18 MVA
for propulsion motor start sequence

n 2 Switchboards 6.6 kV with 7 + 7 panels for

high voltage distribution
n 2 Cast resin transformers 3.5 MVA for low
voltage mains supply
n Bridge and ECR consoles, complete cable
network and lighting system

n Power management, alarm and monitoring

system
n Navigation, communication, fire alarm and
safety system

11

The pipelay vessel Solitaire was delivered to the

Dutch offshore company Allseas after conversion
by the Singapore shipyard Sembawang and by
the English shipyard Swan Hunter in Newcastle.
With a displacement of 76900 tons Solitaire is
the worlds largest pipelay vessel. She is equipped
with a dynamic positioning system according to
NMD class 3, extended firing line and a 108 m

stinger and has been designed to lay pipes with a

diameter of up to 60 inches at a rate of up to 6 km
per day at water depths exceeding those reached
by moored barges. The vessels large hull with 8
thruster drives and dynamic positioning permit
work to be performed at unlimited water depths
and under adverse weather conditions, since tug
boats for mooring are not required.

For dynamic positioning 8 synchro-converter fed

thruster motors are provided with the following
benefits:
n Reduced operating costs since only the power
for the thrust actually required is taken from
the network. Under no-load conditions less
than 5% of the rated current including
excitation is required. Asynchronous motors
require 20-35% of the rated current under
no-load conditions
n Reduced losses in the low power range
amounting to approximately 1% of the rated
power. The losses of a CP propeller at low load
amount to approximately 25% of the
propeller design power
n High efficiency over the entire speed range

Scope of supply

n 10 Diesel electric azimuth thruster drives with:

- 10 double winding synchronous motors
4.3 MW, 465 rpm,
- 10 synchro-converters 24/12-pulses with
control systems,
- 20 cast resin propulsion transformers 3 MVA
n 8 Diesel alternators 8 MVA, 10 kV, 60 Hz, 514 rpm
n 2 Switchboards 10 kV with 2 x 18 panels for
medium voltage distribution
n 12 Cast resin transformers 2 - 3.5 MVA for low
voltage mains supply
n Communication and navigation system

SAM Electronics GmbH

Drives and Special Systems
Behringstrasse 120
22763 Hamburg . Germany

Phone: +49 (0)40 - 88 25 - 27 20

Fax
+49 (0)40 - 88 25 - 41 02
DSS@sam-electronics.de
www.sam-electronics.de

Printed in Germany Technical alterations reserved SAM Electronics GmbH DS 1.052.07/2010

Pipelay Vessel Solitaire