A fleet with lower emissions thanks to vessel electrification

Amsterdam’s canals are cleared of debris, inspected, dredged and cleaned almost daily. Waternet is responsible for this on behalf of the municipality of Amsterdam and the Water Board Amstel, Gooi and Vecht. Waternet aspires to navigate the waterways as ‘clean’ as possible and aims for an emission-free fleet. Iv-Water has successfully helped Waternet electrify its fleet over the past few years, as most of the crane barges, tugs, floating debris cleaning vessels and dredgers that navigate Amsterdam’s waterways are already hybrid or fully electric. Amsterdam’s canals are cleared of debris, inspected, dredged and cleaned almost daily. Waternet is responsible for this on behalf of the municipality of Amsterdam and the Water Board Amstel, Gooi and Vecht. Waternet aspires to navigate the waterways as ‘clean’ as possible and aims for an emission-free fleet. Iv-Water has successfully helped Waternet electrify its fleet over the past few years, as most of the crane barges, tugs, floating debris cleaning vessels and dredgers that navigate Amsterdam’s waterways are already hybrid or fully electric.

Everything on such a vessel has to ‘communicate’ with its counterparts.

In the last decade, the municipality of Amsterdam started a program to reduce emissions from boats and vessels within the city boundaries. Waternet, the municipality’s fleet owner and contractor, took the initiative to make its own fleet more sustainable. Not only to keep the canals clean and safe but also to get the job done in the most sustainable way possible. Moreover, the vessels were in need of replacement: both economically and technically, the fleet had reached the end of its lifespan.

Framework contract
The timing of this programme could not have been better for Iv-Water. In 2017, a framework contract was signed with Waternet, which included various types of assignments directly related to Iv-Water’s activities, such as the adaptation of drinking water production companies and wastewater treatment. However, one of the requests was for something completely different: the electrification of one of the boats that cleans the canals. This was a fantastic challenge, that was already in full development in 2017. But that wasn’t all. In the end, nine different vessels were modernised and/or built. In addition, Iv-Water was responsible for project management, including the provision of technical expertise. In short: an extensive, long-term project with much responsibility.

Extensive project
In many ways, this project for Waternet proved to be unique. Firstly, because of the client, Waternet manages the entire water cycle within Amsterdam, from wastewater treatment to drinking water preparation, from water level management to controlling bridges remotely. Waternet is furthermore responsible for waste and dirt removal. In addition to the overall project management,
Iv-Water played an advisory role in the definition, design, preparation, and implementation phases for the electrification of the fleet. In this last phase - the (re)construction of the Waternet fleet - Iv was specifically asked to manage and supervise the implementation, including the testing.

All disciplines under one roof
A unique commission for Iv-Water, says Deputy Director Paul Kloet: “We hadn’t anticipated a task like this when we signed the framework contract. It is not something we do very often. But we do have the expertise within our EI&A (Electrical Instrumentation & Automation) department to help Waternet with this task. In addition, we can draw upon various other disciplines within
Iv-Groep, not only in terms of expertise but also in terms of capacity.”

The majority of the Waternet fleet now passes through the Amsterdam canals silently and with no emissions.

Robert Hamelink works at Iv-Industrie and was appointed Project Manager. “As a project manager, it is particularly challenging and informative to communicate with the different people, companies and departments, including stakeholders within the Waternet organisation and beyond. You have to be able to explain every step you take to all concerned. Both in terms of process and project control: to demonstrate the project is under control, the figures in the reports need to align. I love that.”

Advanced programming
In terms of content, Robert finds the Waternet project complex but rewarding. “Electrification involves a lot more than you might think. You can replace a diesel engine with an electric motor, but that’s not enough. In the past, such a vessel had - irreverently put - an engine and a lever. Now: a complete electric propulsion system, including a software system with advanced programming. Everything on such a vessel has to ‘communicate’ with its counterparts: from software, all the necessary types of (emergency) batteries, inverters, steering systems, shoreside charging facilities, to the VHF marine radio, everything. And to ensure that the system does not easily fail, the programming must be such that a robust system is delivered.” Paul: “And on an existing vessel, integrating all the necessary components is quite challenging, especially given the limited space for a hybrid installation and the required battery packs.”

Because of the diversity of the parties involved and the coordination, how designs are delivered has become crucial over recent years. After all, the computer design must be correct and coherent regarding the engineering and realisation (construction) thereof. “From an assignment that involved one boat, we ended up with this full programme”, Paul explains, “and we were also asked to manage the project and coordinate all the phases properly within all the involved parties. So I am both proud and grateful because that kind of opportunity doesn’t come along often.”

The result
The result is that the majority of the Waternet fleet now passes through the Amsterdam canals hybrid or fully electric. The project is now mostly complete for Iv: although much work still needs to be done on the last boat, the bulk of the task has been accomplished.

Robert and Paul look back on the project with great satisfaction. Paul: “For us (Iv-Water), this project is exceptional. EI&A were keen to get us involved, but our role grew simply because of the expertise and capacity within Iv as a whole. Quite an advantage.” Robert agrees: “Within Iv-Groep, we are used to reaching out to other divisions and tackling projects together when necessary. We became a single team that tackled the challenges together and achieved a magnificent result!”