Marine News Boat of the Month: March 2017

Red & White Taps AAM for Hybrid Electric U.S.-Built Passenger Vessel
All American Marine (AAM) in February announced a deal for the
construction of a new hybrid electric, 600 passenger aluminum
monohull vessel to be delivered to the Red and White Fleet of San
Francisco, Calif. AAM's latest contract follows an earlier
announcement made by the company regarding a construction
agreement for a 500 passenger aluminum monohull tour boat for
Argosy Cruises of Seattle, Wash. Both operators were originally
pursuing construction contracts for steel monohulls, but AAM was
successfully able to demonstrate considerable savings in
construction and maintenance costs with an aluminum design, while
ensuring delivery of a robust and solid hull structure. At the
same time, AAM is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is in the
process of moving into a brand new purpose-built ship building
facility at nearby Squalicum Harbor. Argosy will take delivery of
their vessel in the late fall and the Red and White Fleet will
receive their new craft in the late spring of 2018.
The new vessel for Red and Fleet, to be christened, Enhydra, will
be the first aluminum hulled, Lithium-Ion battery-electric hybrid
vessel built from the keel up under US Coast Guard subchapter-K
passenger vessel regulations and the latest guidelines for
structural fire protection. The vessel is specifically designed
for harbor tours of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
All American Marine partnered with BAE Systems to design and
integrate the complete battery electric hybrid system. BAE
Systems will supply their HybriDrive Propulsion System that
includes a generator, control system, and AC electric traction
motor. The generator will mount to a variable speed Cummins QSL9
410 mhp at 2,100 rpm diesel engine. The motor generator offers
diesel-electric operation of the AC traction motor which is
coupled directly to the propulsion shaft. With this
configuration, torque is immediately available for the propeller
and the speed can be precisely controlled without the need for a
reduction gear.
The hybrid system will also utilize battery power from two 80 kWh
Lithium-ion battery packs. The BAE HybridDrive system can
automatically utilize full electric battery operation at slower
speeds and when maneuvering in and out of the harbor. At higher
speeds, the generator will automatically engage and augment the
additional power demands of the traction motor. The battery
system is sufficient to meet the entire demand of the vessel's
hotel load while at the same time providing silent and
emission-free operation of the propulsion system during an
evening sunset cruise. Founded in 1892, the historic Red and
White Fleet is committed to environmental sustainability and
community education as one of the oldest businesses operating in
the San Francisco Bay area.
Type: Tour Boat
Designer: Teknicraft
Cruising Speed: 13 KT
Construction: Aluminum
Launch: Spring 2018
Potable H2O: 1,000 gal.
Grid Cooler: Fernstrum
ER Ventilation: Delta T
LOA: 128'
Draft: ~6'
Breadth: 30'
PAX: 600
Crew: 6
Decks: 3
Hull: Monohull
Paint: AwlGrip
Propulsion: BAE Systems HybridDrive
Gen: Cummins QSL9 Tier III
Batteries: Corvus Lithium-Ion
Openings: Diamond SeaGlaze
Fuel Capacity: 2,200 gallons
Propellers: Veem Star 4-blade
USCG Type: Subchapter-K
Thruster: Wesmar V12-18
Steering: Jastram
Nav. Electronics: Furuno
Fuel: Diesel & Battery
Hatches: Freeman Marine
Interior Seats: Beurteaux
Exterior Seats: UES
Steering System: Jastram
Head Type: Headhunter
(As published in the March 2017 edition of
Marine News)
Mar 16, 2017