Page 37: of Marine News Magazine (July 2017)

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HYBRID PROPULSION

C H East Norwalk and recognize the Port of

LOSER TO OME

U.S. centric projects have targeted Norwalk, Connecticut as one of the na-

Robert Kunkel, Presi- dent of Alternative the smaller research vessel, harbor Tug tion’s ? rst environmentally sustainable

Marine Technologies, and passenger ferry markets. The ? rst secondary ports. The growth potential previously served as of our Hybrid vessels was delivered of the Marine Highway project is enor- the Federal Chair- to the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium mous. Follow on vessels serving the man of the Short Sea Shipping Coop- as a 65’ catamaran research vessel car- mid Hudson valley along the Hudson erative Program under the Maritime rying 65 students each trip into Long River and coastal areas reaching into

Administration and the USDOT from

Island Sound in 2015. The second Rhode Island and Maine are under 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President vessel, using a similar research design consideration. No less then ? ve trade of the Connecticut Maritime Asso- for the City University of New York routes within Long Island Sound have ciation, he is a contributing writer for and again built at Derecktor Shipyard been identi? ed to continue the series.

MarineNews. A graduate of the Mas- sachusetts Maritime Academy, Kunkel in New York, completed trials and was sailed as a licensed engineer and con-

AND IN AND commissioned this month. H - -H : tinued his career in ship construction

ARINE IGHWAYS YBRID AND

More recently, our project with M H , H , at NASSCO and Hyundai Heavy In-

HORESIDE NFRASTRUCTURE

Harbor Harvest and Harbor Connect S I dustries, among others. He is a senior of Norwalk, CT moves Hybrid into The growth potential of hybrid and member of the Special Committee on new markets of moving cargoes of shortsea shipping –hand-in-hand –

Ship Operation with ABS and an elect- agriculture and artisan food products raises another subject that should also ed member of the NCB.

along Long Island Sound between be vigorously debated within the U.S.

New York and Connecticut ports. Maritime industry; namely, the loss of

This hybrid will be the third genera- our working waterfront. Harbor Con- tion project completed by the BAE, nect moved towards the Hybrid Cata-

Derecktor and the Amtech team. maran design to gentrify coastal cargo

Moreover, the project has been sub- movements, develop new markets for mitted to the Federal Department of our local farmers and work towards an

Transportation’s Maritime Adminis- environmentally sustainable transpor- tration Marine Highway program and tation system; a system that can rise we expect our of? cial project designa- above the “not in my backyard” noise. tion within the coming weeks. To develop these projects we need to

Separately, the new Connecticut support our working waterfronts.

State Port Authority is the project’s We have seen a Bridgeport, Con- public sponsor and it has been widely necticut shipyard – a developed ship- supported by Congressman Jim Himes yard site we actively pursued with the and State Senator Bob Duff. Connecti- city to continue building Hybrids – fall cut area merchants, local farms on both to real estate development that includes sides of the Sound and the shell? sh restaurants and apartment complexes. community are all eagerly waiting the We are now investigating the recon- project’s arrival. The ? rst catamaran, struction of the Manrissa/NRG real incorporating many of the upgrades estate to develop gentri? ed working and modi? cations made available to waterfront properties that continue the the CUNY 1 hybrid will be available New England tradition of commercial spring of 2018. The keel was laid at ? shing, shipbuilding and repair. Off-

Derecktor Shipyard this month. shore wind, Solar and hybrid alterna-

This Harbor Harvest Hybrid Cata- tive energy will require the working maran will carry 12,000 pounds of pal- waterfront to not only exist, but also let cargo, much of which is refrigerated to grow. And support these local in- on board. The vessel will be berthed dustries. Amtech and Harbor Harvest at the Copps Island Oyster facility in both intend to be part of that growth.

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