Page 48: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Feature

Electri? cation “We have frequent conversations about ‘what’s next?’ because the technology and innovations are changing almost daily.” – Garrett Rice, President,

Master Boat Builders

Master Boat Builders

Electrically powered boats: what’s different? The shipyard view

From the shipyard perspective, what has to be done differently when building an electrically powered vessel working around harbors, compared to the conventional diesel version of a vessel performing similar duties? Marine News asked Master Boat Builders president Garrett Rice this question. “The hull form and the deckhouse are fairly the same. However, once you get into the actual propulsion system, it’s like night and day.” He explained further, “With a diesel boat, you need to think through the con? guration of water-cooled engines, fuel piping, all the different pumps, and many other considerations.” For electric propulsion, “it’s totally different” he said, enumerating issues such as “wire weight, harmonics between power cables, separation of DC power cables from AC power cables, and the placement of numerous elements of smart systems that will avoid interference down the road.” He said, “Instead of doing extensive 3D modeling of the piping, we do less of that, but we do much more in the way of modeling the wire-ways.”

Rice stressed the importance of extreme cooperation among the multiple participants in the design and building process. Instead of dealing with competing aims of the shipowner, builder, and naval architects, which could potentially arise, he said, “We developed an approach where we could bring all the parties to the table early on, at the beginning of the design process, to make sure that all perspectives are heard and are on the table and carefully looked at.” 48 | MN November 2021