Dual hybrid waterjet system engineered for efficient coastal operations
HYBRID ELECTRIC WATERJET PROPULSION FOR HOSPITAL SHIPS
Jeonnam Hospital Ship 511 – Healthcare Support Vessel
- LENGTH:
- 49-meters
- SPEED:
- 17.8 knots
- YEAR:
- 2023
- SHIPYARD:
- Kangnam
- BEAM:
- 46.1-meters
- ENGINE:
- MTU 16V4000M65L, Danfoss Hybrid
- WATERJET:
- MJP 850 MJP DRB
ENHANCED MEDICAL ACCESS AND ECO-FRIENDLY OPERATIONSUM
Jeonnam Hospital Ship 511 is a modern 49-meter hospital vessel equipped with dual MJP 850 DRB waterjets and a hybrid electric propulsion system, designed to deliver essential healthcare services to island residents along South Korea’s southern coast with enhanced safety, efficiency and environmental performance.
The Jeonnam Hospital Ship 511 was commissioned to replace a nearly 23-year-old vessel and significantly enhance medical support for island communities in southern South Korea. Tailored for operations where water depths are shallow and infrastructure limited, this vessel serves as a mobile healthcare platform providing advanced medical diagnostics, treatment, emergency transport and preventive care to residents of remote islands.
Its hybrid electric propulsion system was chosen to balance performance, reliability and environmental sustainability, leveraging waterjet propulsion to operate efficiently in both high- and low-speed regimes while minimizing emissions and improving fuel efficiency.
TAILORED WATERJET AND HYBRID SYSTEM FOR COASTAL OPERATIONS
Marine Jet Power supplied the vessel with dual MJP 850 DRB waterjets, integrated into an advanced hybrid electric propulsion system that combines diesel engines for higher speed transit and electric motors for low-speed, short-distance operation. This hybrid setup helps reduce air pollutant emissions and energy consumption, supporting carbon neutrality goals while ensuring reliable performance for repeated clinic and emergency missions.
The DRB type waterjets provide robust thrust with inboard hydraulic actuation, offering precise control, improved shallow draft performance and enhanced maneuverability — all critical for a healthcare vessel that must frequently enter variable coastal and island waters not well suited to conventional propulsion.
The combination allows:
• efficient hybrid operation (diesel + electric)
• minimized environmental impact and emissions
• reliable propulsion in shallow and coastal areas
• precise control for safe docking and patient transfer
WHY MJP 850 DRB?
MJP 850 DRB waterjets provide powerful and efficient propulsion for medium-to-large vessels operating in demanding conditions. The mixed-flow design delivers strong thrust, smooth acceleration and precise maneuverability, supporting both transit performance and controlled low-speed operations. With inboard hydraulics and a robust construction, the DRB series is engineered for reliability and long service life in mission-critical applications such as government vessels, workboats and passenger craft.
