ABB has been selected by US-based shipbuilder Vigor Fab as the hybrid-electric propulsion and energy storage system provider for the newest additions to the Washington ..
Washington State Ferries
ABB hybrid-electric propulsion for Washington State Ferries’ newbuilds
ABB has been selected by Vigor Fab LLC as the hybrid-electric propulsion and energy storage system provider for the newest additions to the Washington State Ferry fleet. The post ABB hybrid-electric…
Vigor taps ABB to help WSF’s move toward zero-emission fleet
Vigor has selected ABB to provide hybrid-electric propulsion and energy storage systems for new vessels for Washington State Ferries (WSF).
The WSF 2040 Long Range Plan calls for the construction of five new Olympic Class ferries with hybrid-electric propulsion and high capacity energy storage systems at various terminals in the near term. The 2019 Legislature approved initial funding for the first of the new vessels, with delivery scheduled in 2023. The new vessels are needed to replace aging...
Passenger vessels may take $3 billion coronavirus-related hit
The economic damage for the U.S. passenger vessel industry from coronavirus will be between $2 billion and $3 billion, Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) preliminary estimates show.
PVA, which has asked that the industry be included in the Trump administration’s relief plans, represents 350 passenger vessel operators with about 1,600 vessels who employ thousands of U.S. citizens. The passenger vessel industry face months of little or no revenue.
The trade association, which is still tallying...
Washington state gets new funding for hybrid ferry conversion
Washington state, which runs the largest ferry service in North America, last week announced a second initiative to make its ferries greener and cleaner. Using $35 million from the nationwide Volkswagen federal emissions settlement, Washington State Ferries (WSF) will begin converting three of its Jumbo Mark II ferries from diesel to hybrid electric propulsion.
This initiative follows the September launch of a contract with Seattle-based Vigor to build five new 144-car Olympic-class hybrid...
Elliott Bay to design hybrid-electric ferry for Washington state
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) announced today that it has been chosen by Vigor Fab LLC to provide functional design for the new hybrid-electric Olympic-class ferries for Washington State Ferries (WSF).
Seattle-based EBDG will be responsible for redesigning the vessels to accommodate the major change in propulsion type without disrupting structural components. The ferries will operate on all-battery power during crossings or can revert to a hybrid, diesel-electric propulsion. Battery recharging...
NWSA to protect endangered orcas
The Northwest Seaport Alliance, Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, Washington State Ferries, NOAA, and the Puget Sound Partnership co-convened a workshop of a broad range of experts and interests to identify ways to reduce underwater noise in effort to support recovery of the endangered population of Southern Resident killer whales. Underwater noise can be harmful to Southern Resident orcas because it impedes their ability to use sonar to hunt prey and communicate.
The workshop was held at the...
Washington State Ferries, Vigor mark launch of hybrid-electric ferry build program
Yesterday, Washington State Ferries officials and Vigor employees marked the beginning of the greening of WSF’s fleet at Vigor’s Seattle shipyard.
Earlier in the year, the Washington legislature authorized a contract extension for Vigor to build up to five 144-car Olympic-class, hybrid-electric ferries over the coming years for WSF, the largest ferry system in the U.S. Greening of the ferry fleet has been a major objective for WSF and is an important part of Washington’s overarching goal to...