Page 45: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Maine. Farther south, North Caro- lina’s state ferry system is also looking at electri? cation. And in the West,

Skagit County Public Works and Se- attle-based vessel designer Glosten are seeking proposals from electrical inte- grators to provide the vessel and shore electrical systems and the automated charging plug for a new all-electric ferry. A converted all-electric, zero- emissions car and passenger ferry has been operating in Gee’s Bend, Ala. since 2019.

For the short passenger excursion runs around Niagara Falls (typically 20 minutes), Maid of the Mist, a long- time operator of passenger tour boats, was able to go fully electric with a sys- tem put together by ABB. The boats, which entered service in late 2020, use 400 kW propulsion and 316 kWh of battery capacity (in two 158 kWh packs). A shore-based system provides re-charge capability during breaks for embarking/ disembarking passengers.

In San Francisco, the dual powered sightseeing vessel Enhydra has been in service since 2019, with a pack- age designed by BAE Systems, using conventional propellers tied to the

BAE HybriDrive propulsion system, with lengthy bona ? des from the land transport sector. Kitsap Transit is also using a BAE electric-hybrid system for its passenger ferry, Waterman, which operates out of Washington

State’s Port Orchard.

Garrett Rice, the president of the

Master Boat Builders yard, spoke to Marine News in detail about the eWolf order, while also providing insights on the likely future for fully electric tugs. “We have frequent con- versations about ‘what’s next?’ because www.marinelink.com MN 45|