BMT launches new hybrid ferry design

Maritime engineering and architecture firm BMT has announced the launch of a new hybrid ferry design. At 31m long, the 149-passenger Eco Ferry has a top speed of 20kts and is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system comprising BAE System’s HybriDrive system, a 160kWh energy storage system and a solar array on the vessel roof. When the upper end of power is needed, the vessel’s diesel engines provide support while also keeping the batteries, which can also be further charged by the solar array, topped up at the same time. John Bonafoux, managing director at BMT, said: “Greener ferry systems have to be the future and we’re extremely excited to be launching this new hybrid design. In our recent case study of an example river commute in New York, the Eco Ferry’s engines are turned off for 63% of the time. That’s a huge saving on fuel consumption and emissions, not to mention engine hours and maintenance.”