The Switch to deliver single drives for LNG dual-fuel tankers

The Switch, a provider of power electronics for the marine industry, has secured a contract to supply single drives for shaft generators on four new tankers.

These tankers are currently being constructed at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry in Fujian Province, China.

The vessels, designed by the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI), are LNG dual-fuel Aframax tankers with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 113,600.

They are being built for Union Maritime, a shipowner based in the UK, with an expected delivery in the first half of 2027.

The Swiss-based company WinGD will serve as the system integrator for the power take-off (PTO) system on these vessels.

WinGD Integrated Energy Solutions head Stefan Goranov said: “With The Switch, we have absolute confidence in the quality and durability of their technology, as well as their collaborative approach to delivering the best possible outcome for the customer.”

The Switch's single drives help manage the power output from the ships' two-stroke engines, thereby optimising the operation of the shaft generators to enhance efficiency and contributing to lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The application of The Switch's single drives extends beyond shaft generators, as they can also facilitate propulsion by connecting various electric motors to the AC system, integrate battery packs, and link other renewable energy sources such as fuel cells, solar, and wind energy.

The drives are available in both inline and geared configurations, offering functionalities such as PTI-PTO and PTI-PTO-PTH, with a power range from 800 A to 5,600 A.

Designed specifically for marine applications, The Switch's power electronics are claimed to be optimised from a systems perspective.

The drives can be directly connected to the vessel's freshwater cooling system, and the power modules are equipped with vibration dampers.

The cabinets are constructed to provide high enclosure protection, ensuring durability in challenging marine environments. Due to plug-and-play fast connectors, the maintenance is claimed to be easy and fast.

The Switch sales vice president Juha Tennivaara said: “This is our first order from WinGD and takes our relationship to the next stage.

“We are excited to be working with them and hope it will lead to more substantial collaboration in the future. As a premium player in this competitive market, WinGD are a great reference for us.”

In April 2024, Norwegian vessel lifecycle management provider ACEL Group selected The Switch for the supply of durable single drives for an “extensive midlife upgrade” of the multipurpose offshore vessel Island Frontier.