VIDEO: Volvo Penta IPS powers Beagle Channel tour boats

Volvo Penta’s individually steerable IPS drives are linked to the onboard joystick giving captains more control of the vessel especially when doing tight maneuvers or docking

Argentina based tour boat operator Los Yámanas S.A. is using Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) to power two of its sightseeing vessels, which operate in one of the most remote parts of the world.

Tours start from Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego. Long-known as the southernmost city on Earth, it is one of Argentina’s top destinations. Los Yámanas’s fleet mainly operates in the Beagle Channel – one of three navigable routes linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the southern tip of South America. Passengers can expect to have a taste of the wild, including a trip to see the penguin colony at Martillo Island and take in the breathtaking beauty of Patagonia.

Los Yámanas prides itself on maintaining the safest and most comfortable standards for the up to 140,000 passengers it carries annually

“We have a fleet of four boats,” says company president, Constante Moreno Preto, “with capacities of up to 170 passengers. All are powered by Volvo Penta, with two of our catamarans powered by Volvo Penta IPS 900 packages, rating 3.”

“On a good day the water [in the Beagle Channel] is calm but on a bad day the sea can get terrifying. It can really feel like a matter of life or death,” says Moreno. “When conditions are bad it is vital that boats are reliable and that captains can maneuver them to safety easily. Volvo Penta’s individually steerable IPS drives are linked to the onboard joystick giving captains more control of the vessel especially when doing tight maneuvers or docking.”

Operators have control even in demanding sea conditions thanks to Volvo Penta IPS’s unique design. The system has forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers that sit below the hull for an incredible “grip’” on the water – maximizing control.

The Volvo Penta IPS package delivers up to 30 percent lower fuel consumption and emissions than an inboard shaft.

“This results in a reduced impact on the environment and that matters to us and the future of our business,” says Moreno.

Volvo Penta IPS also reduces noise and vibration levels by up to 50 percent which is important when operating in marine mammal habitats. Low noise and vibration also mean that passengers have a more comfortable experience and can feel even closer to the stunning nature.

“The reliability of the boats makes us feel safer,” says Moreno. “Thanks to the support we received from Volvo Penta through Volvo Penta dealer Naval Motor we receive important spare parts in just 24 to 48 hours which is very quick if you think how remote we are.”