Parker Hannifin has supplied the F12 hydraulic motor that is at the centre of the drive system designed by Anglian Diesels, on a unique luxury barge building project. The motor's efficiency and unique bidirectional properties were chosen as integral components in high performance 'Archimedes screw' thrusters, which will allow the barge outstanding hydrodynamics and easy manoeuvrability. Jenal, the project of Jennie and Alan Arnold, is to be a replica of a Dutch Klipper barge, of the type built in the late 1800s and originally powered by sail.

This modern version will be equipped with all of the latest technology, and built to the highest specification possible.

Alan Arnold said of the project: 'One of the difficulties in designing and building a replica Klipper barge is marrying the period look with modern advanced methods of steering and propulsion'.

'We are proud to be using the finest equipment, manufacturers and suppliers available; the basic premise being the better the supplier, the better the end product'.

ARS Anglian Diesels is a specialist in hydraulic transmission systems and due to its experience and expertise in marine applications was selected to supply the project with high performance hydraulic bow and stern thrusters containing Parker's F12 motors.

The thrusters were chosen for their space saving design, resistance to jamming, efficiency and outstanding manoeuvrability.

Their Archimedes screw design, rather than that of the conventional single or twin propeller propulsion model, offers a significant space saving benefit, a necessity in any boat building project.

Also, whereas conventional thrusters are prone to becoming clogged with debris, the Archimedes Screw thrusters are able effectively to mince it and therefore avoid the problem of jamming.

Hydraulically driven by two Volvo Penta D3-110 diesel engines, and incorporating Parker's bidirectional F12 motors, the thrusters will deliver excellent propulsion in either direction.

The Archimedes Screw thrusters have curved thrust tubes with round ports, which will enable the hydrodynamics of the boat to be maintained, allowing greater thrust than conventional straight tubes, which are forced to follow the curvature of the bow and stern, resulting in oval ports, an increase in pressure, and a reduction in efficiency.

The Parker F12 motor's heavy duty roller bearings permit substantial external shaft loads, crucial for a vessel of this size, with its unique piston locking, timing gear and bearing set-up, as well as the small number of parts, adding up to an extremely robust design with long service life and proven reliability.

Driving the F12 motor also requires less fuel than conventional products because of its high overall efficiency.