Harbour Coordination Centre manager Miranda Sagel christens RPA 8. Credit: Ries van Wendel de Joode.

The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands has commissioned the new hybrid patrol vessel RPA 8 that was built by Kooiman Group in Zwijndrecht.

The new 25m-long boat can run on both diesel and diesel-electric power and replaces the previous RPA 3, which had reached the end of its technical and economic service life.

Port of Rotterdam harbour master René de Vries said: “Commissioning this vessel is in keeping with the policy of stimulating sustainable sailing and setting an example as Port Authority.”

"All these innovations result in the RPA 8 saving the same amount of energy as 65 households consume in one year."

Approximately 30,000 sea-going vessels and 110,000 inland vessels arrive at the port every year.

RPA 8 is noted to use less fuel than previous models, while its hybrid propulsion system enables more efficient patrolling at low speeds and reduces the number of hours that the diesel engines are required to run at low-load operation.

The vessel’s special wing profile underwater will result in a reduced wake, which is anticipated to be beneficial for quay walls and other vessels, as well as reduce fuel consumption.

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In addition, RPA 8’s hull is constructed from aluminium in order to further limit the amount of fuel required for operation.

René de Vries added: “All these innovations result in the RPA 8 saving the same amount of energy as 65 households consume in one year.

“This also reduces the vessel’s CO2 emissions; the level of reduced emissions is calculated to be equivalent to saving the annual planting of approximately 8,000 trees.”

Many of the innovations on-board the RPA 8 are also slated to be used on the RPA 13, RPA 12, RPA 11, RPA 10 and RPA 16 vessels.