Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (January 2021)

23 25

Feature

Electri? cation

Electric Propulsion:

The Dawn of a New

Generation of Marine Power?

Technological advancement opens new doors for hybrid and fully electric vessels

By Jim Romeo n mid-2020, the U.S. Navy ac- cepted the delivery of the USS

Zumwalt, the Navy’s ? rst full-

Ielectric power and propulsion surface combatant. The ship’s new electric propulsion plant provides favorable ef? ciency coupled with a reduced total cost of ownership. The design is ? exible and ef? cient to de- liver power where it’s needed, when it’s needed. Its adoption is symbolic of a maritime future and what could be in store for other marine craft, both inland and on the high seas.

Such technological advancement is encouraging at a time when the world’s maritime industry delivers greater than two-thirds of all global trade, but also are tagged as a notable contribu- tor to adverse carbon emissions. Elec- tric propulsion and its versatile power capabilities make it attractive environ- mentally and economically. “We have been working to ad-

Kitsap Transit Waterman - dress the challenge of zero emissions 150-passenger hybrid-electric vessel for decades and see great promise for

All American Marine 24 | MN January 2021