Page 22: of Marine News Magazine (September 2025)

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Feature

Hybrid Vessels or in a combination booster mode with the battery-driven French boat builder Alternatives Energies says the series electric motor and diesel engine both driving the shaft for of eight hybrid patrol vessels it built for the French Navy maximum thrust for maneuvering. back in 2020 use battery power up to 80% of the time. “Interest across the Indo-Paci? c is growing, particularly Among the bene? ts are the reduction in odor and noise from agencies focused on green ? eet transition, near-shore for the crew. Conventional power allows for a speed of 10 law enforcement, and operations in environmentally pro- knots with diesel-powered generators, and the low-speed, tected zones,” says Adelina Florescu, Managing Director zero-emission operating mode uses batteries that can be

Ribcraft Australia & APAC. “We’ve now in a position to recharged at dockside or at sea. The vessels have a serial hy- quote and spec from our Melbourne of? ce, and we set up brid con? guration: 2x150kW motors, 2x150kW gensets a manufacturing partnership with Edencraft in Geelong, and 164kW battery pack. hence we are capable of delivering sovereign-built hybrid Singapore was also an early adopter of hybrid power platforms at scale.” with the MPA Guardian, a 35m hybrid-electric aluminum

Electric equipment company Molabo of Germany high- catamaran patrol boat that has been operating for the Mar- lights the safety of the power system in a recently-delivered itime and Port Authority (MPA) in Singapore in 2022. ? re-? ghting and rescue boat built by the Finnish shipyard The vessel has a top speed of 27 knots and is designed for

Kewatec. The vessel features a hybrid waterjet propul- patrolling activities, search and rescue, oil spill response, sion system utilizing two 50kW Molabo electric motors drone operations and salvage support.

and a Molabo 48-volt drive that it says offers signi? cant MPA Guardian was intended to be a technology dem- safety advantages compared to conventional high-voltage onstrator for the MPA, and vessel designer BMT says systems. The safe-to-touch electric drive system does not vessels such as this are critical to proving that the tech- require specialized high-voltage trained personnel to in- nologies are now mature enough to provide real world stall, repair or maintain the system, and it reduces risk to bene? t to operators. crew members, emergency personnel and the public while Understanding the operating pro? le of the vessel is key maintaining fast and ef? cient operational performance. to determining energy storage and propulsion require-

The DOEN Waterjets jetdrives further enhance safety by ments, says Steven Lee, Chief Naval Architect at BMT. eliminating the in-water hazard of the propeller for safer BMT works closely with battery suppliers to determine the rescue and retrieval operations. most appropriate battery type, chemistry and optimum op-

In May, the King County Sheriff’s Of? ce The MPA Guardian, a 35m hybrid-electric aluminum

Marine Division in the U.S. selected catamaran patrol boat, has been operating for the

Moose Boats to build a new, custom diesel Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) in Singapore in 2022.

electric hybrid patrol boat.

Moose Boats BMT 22 | MN September 2025