Up-to-date power management system with a simple one-to-one -replacement
Up-to-date power management system with a simple one-to-one replacement
The Torpoint chain ferries are the UK’s busiest inland waterways ferries, crossing the Hamoaze at the mouth of the river Tamar to connect Torpoint in Cornwall with Devonport in Plymouth. The service operates 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, carrying over 2.4 million vehicles and around 500,000 foot passengers and cyclists every year, and this generation of ferries has now been in service for 14 years. The three ferries, PLYM II, TAMAR II and LYNHER II, are named after rivers in the area and are operated by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee.
Maintaining the resilience and availability of the service is vital, so the decision to upgrade to the new PPU 300’s was an obvious one to make when the PPU-2’s were declared obsolete. Retrofitting can be daunting, and working with a tight schedule, it was crucial that a detailed plan was made, and that deadlines were met.
To conduct the upgrade, the ferries need to be taken out of service, and the optimum time to do this has been during each of the ferries dry dock refits. The first ferry fit has now been completed, with the second due in April/May 2019, and the final fit in April/May 2020.
“Torpoint Ferries are very happy with the DEIF solution to continue with reliable service on our generators. The PPU 300 system has proved to be very user-friendly and trouble-free.”
Technical Manager | Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee
Essential refit extends lifetime
PLYM II was the first ferry to be upgraded from the obsolete PPU-2 to the new PPU 300 system from DEIF, and Project Engineer Simon H. Pedersen from DEIF’s Marine Solution team went to England to conduct the retrofit.
“Upgrading the system on PLYM II was pretty simple as we could do a 1:1 replacement. The old PPU-2 controller could be replaced by the more modern PPU 300”, says Simon H. Pedersen.
The existing switchboards could be reused and so could the alarm system and its interface. The project team from DEIF made everything from design, drawings, installation and commissioning ensuring Torpoint Ferries a smooth transition to the new power management system.
“My experience with DEIF and working with Simon on this project has been a very pleasurable experience from the outset. We had extensive contact with DEIF in developing the upgrade solution, and I was very impressed with Simons attitude and approach to preparing for the installation. He was very flexible and went out of his way to provide a service which was outstanding and very professional. His knowledge of the system was excellent, and he provided training and a detailed demonstration on how to use the PPU 300’s”, says Lee Hunt, Technical Manager.
