Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (September 2025)

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Harbor Charger:

Vessels

Governor’s Island Hybrid-Electric Ferry

The Trust for Governors Island introduced its new hy- brid-electric ferry, the Harbor Charger, the ? rst of its kind in

New York State and an addition to the Trust’s existing ferry ? eet. The arrival of the new boat coincides with the 20-year anniversary of Governors Island opening to the public, as well as major recent progress in its development as a leading destination for climate research and education.

Harbor Charger was named following a citywide nam-

Timothy Schenck ing competition that drew more than 800 submissions, with the winning name submitted by David Kurnov of the equipment. The hybrid propulsion system reduces air

Brooklyn. The $33 million vessel is the ? rst hybrid-electric pollution by allowing the boat’s systems to toggle between public ferry in New York State. three modes: zero-emissions, battery-only power, and bat-

Harbor Charger traveled up the Eastern Seaboard from tery assisted hybrid with diesel backup. The battery-as-

Louisiana, where it was built at the Conrad Shipyard in sisted hybrid mode is projected to reduce carbon dioxide

Morgan City. The ferry has a capacity of up to 1,200 pas- emissions by nearly 600 tons annually.

sengers and 30 vehicles for Island deliveries and services Once shoreside charging facilities are installed, which and boasts an increased cruising speed of 10-12 knots. It are currently in the design phase, the vessel will reduce will replace the diesel-powered Lt. Samuel S. Coursen, the emissions by an additional 800 tons annually.

Trust’s current vehicle and passenger ferry that was com- Harbor Charger was designed by Elliot Bay Design missioned by the U.S. Army in 1956 and has been in con- Group (EBDG) and required more than 465 tons of steel. tinuous use ever since. Later this year, the Lt. Samuel S. It is propelled with Schottel azimuthing thrusters featuring

Coursen will retire from service. 360-degree steering. The boat also features modern ameni-

Harbor Charger is equipped with Siemens Energy’s Blue- ties, a lower-level ADA-accessible lounge, and restrooms

Drive Eco diesel-electric propulsion system, its BlueVault on each level. This is the second ferry boat EBDG has de- battery-based solution, and EcoMAIN—a technology signed for the Trust, the passenger-only GOVERNORS 1, platform that enables the operator to constantly monitor built by Blount Boats, went into service in 2019.

Nexans, Crowley Wind Services

Partner on Unique Cable Lay Barge

The 300-ft., U.S.-? agged barge, built in Louisiana and tested in the U.S. Gulf to Nexans speci? cations, will be crewed by American mariners under Crowley’s operation.

The vessel will play a role in laying and burying the sub- sea cables needed to deliver energy from offshore to the grid onshore. The barge is the ? rst to have vertical injectors along with a dynamic positioning system and a multiple- anchors positioning system, which allow for accurate and ef? cient cable placement, even in challenging conditions.

It boasts a 3,500-ton capacity carousel to lay and bury sub-

American Maritime Of? cers (AMO) sea cable using burial tools such as a vertical injector, a jet sled,

Nexans and Crowley Wind Services formed a partner- or a jetting ROV, with the potential to be upgraded to 7,000 ship to develop and operate a Jones Act compliant cable lay tons with two carousels for bundle cable lay and burial. The barge, dedicated to supporting the installation of subsea barge is positioned to support Equinor’s Empire Wind off- transmission lines necessary for offshore wind energy, tele- shore wind farm for New York and can be con? gured to lay communications and other major industrial applications. or repair cable for a multitude of other subsea applications. 40 | MN September 2025