Page 41: of Marine News Magazine (October 2023)

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Ship Repair &

Conversion 1997 and 1999, at Todd Paci? c Ship- the best place to help propel our ferry by 2050, WSF currently plans to ret- yards in Seattle. Each 460-foot-long system into a low-emission, sustain- ro? t six current diesel ferries to hybrid ferry can carry up to 2,500 passengers able future which supports family- electric, build 16 new hybrid vessels, and 202 vehicles, making them the wage jobs all across Puget Sound. We retire 13 diesel ferries and add charg- largest vessels in the WSF ? eet. look forward to getting to work and ing power to 16 terminals.

In September, Vigor kicked off getting these ferries back in service for In fall 2023, WSF plans to post a the conversions with the ? rst vessel the thousands of Puget Sound resi- new draft invitation for bid for up

Wenatchee at its Harbor Island ship- dents who rely on them.” to ? ve new hybrid electric Olympic yard in Seattle. The ferry is expected The conversion contract is the larg- class ferries.

to reenter service next summer. The est in WSF’s $3.98 billion electri? ca- To date, WSF has received $1.34 yard will then begin converting Ta- tion program, which will see WSF billion, with $1.03 billion from the coma in 2024. WSF has the option to spend $3.7 billion to electrify or build 2022 Move Ahead Washington trans- extend the contract to convert a third new ferries and $280 million on ter- portation package. This state funding boat, Puyallup, in 2025. minals over the next 17 years. Work- builds on over $40 million in com-

The conversion will remove two ing toward its goal of zero emissions petitive grants.

diesel generator sets from each of the vessels and replace them with batteries and associated support systems. The conversion will incorporate energy storage technology and rapid charging of the batteries from each applicable ferry terminal.

“We’re tackling the biggest emit- ters in our ? eet ? rst, the Jumbo Mark

IIs, which contribute 26% of our fer- ries’ greenhouse gas emissions. When our terminals are electri? ed in 2026, we expect emissions from these three vessels to drop by roughly 95%,” von

Ruden said.

While converting the ferries, Vigor will also update aging propulsion system controls to increase reliabil- ity and extend the life expectancy of these vessels, which have been ex- periencing equipment failures while replacement parts for these older sys- tems have been hard to come by. Sie- mens Energy will supply the propul- sion control systems as well as alarm and monitoring systems.

Adam Beck, Vigor executive vice president of ship repair, said, “Our long history with WSF makes Vigor www.marinelink.com MN 41|