Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (July 2022)

39 41

MSFS Hybrid-electric Ferry

North Kingstown, R.I. shipyard Senesco Marine has been selected by the Maine Department of Transporta- tion to build a new hybrid-electric passenger vessel for the

Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS). The 154-foot passen- ger-vehicle ferry, designed by Gilbert Associates, will be equipped with BAE Systems’ electric hybrid propulsion solution to deliver reduced and zero-emission operations capability for the Rockland-based ferry service.

The ? rst hybrid car ferry in Maine will initially provide service from the ferry terminal in Rockland and follows its newly launched sister ship on the Rockland-Vinalhaven line, Capt. Richard G. Spear.

BAE’s HybriGen Assist solution includes electric mo- tors, variable speed generators, a battery-based energy storage system and vessel auxiliary power to create a clean, quiet form of propulsion. The vessel will be equipped with

Caterpillar propulsion engines and gensets, Reintjes gear- boxes and a Spear energy storage system, integrated with

BAE Systems’ electric motors and power electronics.

Senesco Marine

Dorado

A new high-speed passenger vessel entered service for the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transpor- tation Authority (WETA). The newbuild, Dorado, is the ? rst in a series of four new ferries being built for WETA by

Mavrik Marine in La Conner, Wash. Construction on the second vessel in the Dorado class, Delphinus, is underway.

The EPA Tier 4 ferry was designed by One2Three Naval

Architects, and construction management services were pro- vided by Aurora Marine Design. Dorado carries 320 passen- gers and will initially enter service rotating among WETA’s routes to collect operational data and allow passengers across the ferry system to experience the boat, the agency said.

Dorado is the fastest vessel in WETA’s ? eet with a service speed of 36 knots and it is the ? rst boat built for WETA that can safely dock at any of the system’s 12 ferry terminals. The vessel has expansive outdoor passenger space to allow more riders to experience a fresh-air trip across the Bay.

WETA www.marinelink.com MN 41|