All American Marine (AAM) and Harbor Breeze Cruises are partnering to design and construct a new state-of-the-art 33m hybrid passenger vessel which will exceed US EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) air quality requirements.
The vessel will be deployed in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, to provide harbour tours, whale watch cruises, and dinner events, in and around the port complex. The vessel design was developed by Teknicraft Design.
The propulsion system will use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) coupled to a parallel hybrid battery propulsion system, supplied by ABB. The system will feature twin 250kW traction motors and a 588kW BorgWarner Energy Storage System (ESS), allowing Harbor Breeze Cruises to operate harbour tours emission free.
This project will demonstrate the latest technological and commercially available systems in the maritime industry. It exceeds the most rigorous emissions guidelines in North America, including the most recent CARB harbour craft rules. The vessel is part of the Los Angeles Marine Emission Reduction (LA MER) project that received a US$ 15m grant from CARB’s Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project programme. The vessel is considered a first of its kind, as a multi-purpose monohull operating as a USCG Subchapter K passenger vessel with systems and equipment installed to meet the USCG requirements to operate on a ‘Limited Coastwise’ route, in a parallel hybrid configuration with advanced data collection capabilities. The design incorporates advanced technology throughout the vessel and provides a high level of operational flexibility.
Dan Salas, Owner and Operator, Harbor Breeze Cruises, said: “We are beyond excited to design and build this vessel. It’s going to be the first of its kind in the passenger vessel industry. All American Marine has built two other very successful vessels for our operation, and we can’t wait to see our vision come to life again, working with AAM and Teknicraft. It’s sure to set the standard for passenger vessels, not only in design and build, but in its innovative propulsion systems, paving the way forward to a cleaner future.”
The vessel will be powered by twin MAN D2862 EPA Tier 4 engines, supplied by Northern Lights. The engines will drive FP propellers via a remote-mounted Reinjtes gearbox provided by Karl Senner Inc. The twin 250kW electric drive motors will be powered by the energy storage system which will provide an all-electric, zero emissions mode for the cleanest operations available for vessel propulsion. Four operational modes will provide: Diesel-powered propulsion, Fully electric, emissions free propulsion, Underway battery charging, and Stationary battery charging. The SCR and MAN class-approved DPF will achieve further reductions in exhaust emissions, if engine use is required on longer routes.
Ron Wille, President All American Marine, said: “All American Marine and Teknicraft Design are looking forward to working on this ground-breaking passenger vessel. It is a first of its kind in the United States. This unique propulsion package will be novel for not only Harbor Breeze, but also the Maritime industry. Offering both low or zero emissions operations and providing a wide range of possibilities for Harbor Breeze Cruises.”
Image: New passenger vessel for Los Angeles and Long Beach (source: All American Marine)
