Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Feature

Electri? cation the technology and innovations are changing almost dai- vessels. “Harbor tugs are not very big,” he said. Looking ly,” he said. “Boat operators are trying to see what should ahead, Rice hinted at some news a few months out, say- you invest in next…and want to invest in a boat that will ing, “We are working on a very ? exible design- for a boat last- for decades.” Among the 10 tugs presently under con- that can work in any harbor.” struction at MBB, he said that most are convention diesel The case for batteries for small boats serving harbors is powered, but there are two hybrids (diesel electric / diesel a convincing one. Steve Trkla, president of the U.S. arm mechanical) and, now, the all-electric boat for Crowley. of Torqeedo, told Marine News, “One area that’s often

There is not one boat type that will instantly become overlooked when discussing electric vs conventional in- an industry standard. Rice offered the perspective that: ternal combustion systems is the superior instant torque “Every port in the United States is different…every job delivered by electric drives at slow speeds. This translates is different…and there are different missions for harbor into better maneuverability and more ef? cient pushing/ tugs in each port. When you start bringing in different pulling of loads.” His company, based near Munich, is propulsion solutions besides conventional diesel, it does a part of the DEUTZ Group, one of the world’s lead- matter what the boat is going to be doing.” Summing up, ing manufacturers of drive systems and offers a fully inte- he explained, “You can only put so many batteries into a grated high-voltage electric propulsion system Deep Blue harbor tug,” referring to constraints on the size of those and the Cruise product for smaller vessels. It also provides

Skagit County Public Works and Glosten are seeking proposals to provide the vessel and shore electrical systems and

Steerable thruster the automated charging plug for a new for Torqeedo all-electric ferry design.

Fassmer ferry

Toreedo

Glosten 46 | MN November 2021