Modern and 19th-century technology has merged aboard TSS Earnslaw in an initiative to help Queenstown's "Lady of the Lake" burn coal more efficiently and possibly cut emissions.
Real Journeys, the operator of the oldest working steamship in the southern hemisphere, told the Queenstown Times it was pleased with its initial observations of the new combustion fan system, which was installed during the ship's annual survey in June. An independent review would be conducted at the end of the summer to assess its efficiency.
Ohai had supplied coal for Earnslaw over its 97-year lifetime, but the closure of the Southland mine prompted Real Journeys to investigate new sources in August last year.
Previous chief engineer John Caulkwell tried one blend of coal, then new chief engineer Ross Morton tried another three blends when he came on board last September.
"I thought, why don't we apply normal land-based boiler combustion methods to bring this 100-year-old technology up to current standards," Mr Morton said.
He engaged Energy Management Systems to conduct an independent peer review of his idea in March and the Christchurch company came up with the fan design.
Vortex Engineering, in Christchurch, supplied two combustion fans, one for each boiler, as well as the mechanism that allows stokers to change the speed of the fans to control the amount of air that enters the boilers.
Earnslaw is now fired by coal from Eastern Coal Supplies, of Timaru, a blend of Nightcaps, Southland, and Cascade coal, from Westport.
"Because it's a coal-fired boiler, we'll never totally eliminate the smoke, but we will achieve the ability to burn different types of coal and burn it more efficiently," Mr Morton said.
"The direct result of that will be less emissions in the atmosphere."
Stokers would continue to shovel coal into the firebox and Earnslaw would continue its stately cruise at 12 knots (about 22kmh).
