The Pelican Challenge

Published on: 29/08/2017

The crew and trainees aboard the sail training vessel, the Pelican of London now have the peace of mind that a powerful, reliable John Deere engine will safely navigate them home should the weather turn.

The magnificent tall ship, the Pelican of London, provides activities including climbing, rigging, helming and navigating to NEETS (young people Not in Employment, Education, or Training) to build skills and confidence, and re-ignite their passion for learning and working. This is all part of the exciting, challenging opportunities offered by UK charity Adventure Under Sail (AUS).

“While her main power source is the wind captured by her 11 sails, a propulsion engine is vital for safety and manoeuvrability,” commented Rikk Butler, Chief Executive Officer at AUS. “The existing engine had seen extensive service and was showing its years, so to see Pelican into the future we wanted a new, clean running, fuel efficient power plant.”

AUS selected a John Deere engine which was supplied by Barrus’s dealer Purbeck Marine based in Poole, Dorset. The brief was to make Pelican of London compliant with emission control areas as defined by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The PowerTech™ 6090SFM85 engine proposed by Purbeck Marine is fully Tier3, Stage III compliant in the standard model.

Purbeck Marine worked closely with AUS engineers from selection through fitting and trials to ensure the project went smoothly. Barrus engineers joined them for the successful sea trials under the watchful eye of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Pelican of London cruises at 10-plus knots, while her range under the new engine is around 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of under seven knots. “This was a huge project for our small charity’s tight budget,” Butler concludes. “Purbeck Marine demonstrated high-quality knowledge and skills. I was present when the engine was started for the first time, with a coin placed on its edge on top of the engine – the coin did not even move. Fuel efficiency has increased considerably, and noise and vibration have been substantially reduced. I am confident we have chosen well with the John Deere engine fitted by Purbeck Marine and have been impressed by their dedication and commitment throughout the project.”

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