Written by Kris Land
Powering the Sea Bird is no small task. The ship must be fitted with a suitable motor system that adheres to the refitting projects strict requirements for green operation. The current engine requires a great deal of diesel so to ensure sustainability, a G50 Baldor Reliance AC VC motor has been selected because it offers the right amount of power for the ships everyday operation using electricity.
Why is the Right Motor So Important?
There are obvious reasons why selecting the right motor for the Sea Bird is so important. Basic function
requires a motor that can manage the immense size and demands of a sea-going ship. However there is another underlying reason that may not be quite as obvious.
The Sea Bird is not just a project focus on a single group of people. Its success could bring on an evolution in the way we power marine craft and land based machinery. The Seabird will be implementing many new and old concepts that have the potential to operate to optimum standards without producing excessive waste or burning non-renewable resources. If the Sea Bird can prove the validity of the new green technology it will be using, many others could get on board.
Few ships can claim the rich history of the Sea Bird. Originally the U.S.S. New Bedford, this ship served in the Navy. It was the focus of the famous 1955 film, Mister Roberts. Later, the U.S.S. New Bedford played a key role in the tragic Texas Towers incident. Despite a valiant effort by the ship and her crew, the inhabitants of Texas Tower 4 perished. Still, the ship remained a symbol of the selfless bravery displayed by her crew during the crisis. Refitting the Sea Bird will maintain the legacy of the ship as it begins to change the world through green technology.
A Closer Look at the Baldor Reliance Electric Motor Company
Based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Baldor Reliance company is focused on producing quality electric engines that are ideal for operation in industrial settings. Baldor Reliance works with distributors in over 70 countries and includes 50 offices and warehouses in North America.
An additional 26 offices service international clients. The Baldor Reliance product catalog includes AC motors, DC motors, power transmissions, servo motors, gear products, grinders, buffers and generators.
| ||||||
Related Articles:
San Diego Dry Dock (part 2)Chris Conant
Thomas Heggen the authorKris Land
Gas vs. Diesel vs. Tesla TurbineSarah Paulin
Global Climate Change vs. Global WarmingSarah Paulin
|
 |
|
|---|
Breaking News
Every minute you cut from your shower is roughly 5 gallons of water. The less time your shower takes, the lower your impact on the environment.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
