SCHOTTEL Delivers Propulsion for First Emission-Free Push Boat

Posted by Michelle Howard October 17, 2019

Photo credit: TU Berlin, Department of Design and Operation of Maritime Systems

The Elektra push boat ordered by BEHALA, Berlin harbor’s warehousing and logistics firm will be equipped with rudder propellers from Schottel.

Elektra will be a hybrid canal push boat powered by a combination of fuel cells, batteries and an electric motor. The boat is currently under construction at the Hermann Barthel shipyard in Derben (Germany), and is planned for testing in Berlin in 2020.

"Elektra shows what is possible," said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerd Holbach, Project Manager at TU Berlin for the Department of Design and Operation of Maritime Systems. "It demonstrates – not only as a push boat, but in particular as a model for electrical energy concepts for many maritime areas – that an energy turnaround is quite possible."

The 20- x 8.2-m canal push boat will be equipped with two Schottel Rudder propellers, type SRP 100 with nozzle (200 kW each) and a Schottel steering and control system. A minimum service speed of max. 10 km/h is reached and a maximum thrust load of 1,400 tonnes is available.

The vessel will use the fuel cell technology for the basic energy supply of the power train and for the shipboard electrical system. At peak loads, additional energy is provided by the batteries. The hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell is generated via electrolysis from green electricity generated by wind power.