Multipurpose Ocean Vessel Duque de Ahumada
Spain
Named after the founder and first Director General of Spain’s Civil Guard, the Duque de Ahumada is a multi-functional vessel for the Civil Guard’s Maritime Service.
The Maritime Service is responsible for the surveillance and security of the Spanish coast, also performs support functions for fisheries inspection, combating irregular immigration, and fighting the trafficking of illicit substances. To do this, it requires resources that allow it to meet all these needs within a single marine platform.
The selective catalytic reduction systems installed in this vessel's propulsion engines reduce NOx emissions by 95%. The addition of hybrid diesel-electric propulsion allows the Duque de Ahumada to navigate in patrol mode at speeds of up to 11 knots using only electric motors, eliminating emissions from diesel combustion. This is particularly important in port areas, where the vessel operates entirely in electric mode.
The vessel's operational nature requires it to be at sea for a significant portion of the year, which would normally result in very high fuel consumption. However, the highly efficient diesel engines, along with the assistance provided by electric propulsion during extended periods of navigation, give the vessel a range of over 11,000 nautical miles, reducing fuel consumption.