Hybrid project on Hallberg Rassy wins Royal Thames Mansura Trophy

by Lee Mylchreest on 26 Mar 2013

Trial boat - the Hallberg Rassy Armorel 42 SW

Armorel is a Hallberg Rassy 42 which was converted to hybrid propulsion as part of the EU funded 'HYMAR' project. She is being used as a trials boat to prove the latest developments in hybrid technology, and now the project has won the Royal Thames Mansura Trophy for Ocean Going and Coastal Division Technology.

Simple cruising boat with world-leading technology © SW

About the yacht:
For propulsion, 'Armorel' has a Steyr Motors hybrid unit on the shaft. This uses an integral electric motor to drive the boat to 6 knots after which the diesel engine takes over. Once the diesel is running, the electric drive motor becomes a generator and recharges the batteries.

Armorel’s propeller has been specially designed by Bruntons and INSEAN to work as an efficient water turbine when under sail. This forces the shaft to rotate, generating all of the power the boat needs whilst at sea without running the engine.

New energy sensors and a new hybrid control system have been developed by Triskel Marine. Known as 'Jason', this oversees the boat’s systems and is capable of fully automating most operations. Display and control is on an iPad or similar.

Electrical storage is provided by a new generation of lead acid batteries from Enersys; power conversion is by Mastervolt, and thanks are due to Malo Yachts for their pioneering early work.

About the project:
The primary aim of the HyMar project was to provide reliable and practical information about the effectiveness of marine hybrid propulsion in small craft. Extensive, practical testing of many different design concepts over the last three years has led to the development of a range of innovative technologies.

In 2012, the team consolidated all of the lessons learned in the 13m (43ft) test boat, a Hallberg Rassy 42 Armorel. The final HyMar hybrid system in Armorel is optimised for energy efficiency and is based on design principles that allow any compliant equipment to be used regardless of supplier. ICOMIA provided HyMar with project management, scientific and technical co-ordination and technology foresight.

About the trophy:
The Royal Thames Yacht Club Mansura Trophy is a biennial competition to identify and reward excellence in the design, development and operation of hybrid marine craft. The trophy, inaugurated in 2006, is the most prestigious international maritime award presented for the latest innovative development in hybrid power.

Previous Mansura Trophy winners include the South African Green Motion FastCat 445 sailing catamaran African Cats; the French-manufactured Lagoon Catamarans; Australia’s Sydney Solar Sailor; UK EnviroBoat Developments Ltd; the Canadian Tamarack Electric Boat Company’s all-electric hybrid ‘The Loon’; and American Island Pilot LLC, DSe Hybrid.

HYMAR is managed by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations.

For more information go to: http://www.hymar.org/