BMT unveils new hybrid ferry design
Artist’s impression of the new hybrid ferry
The 31m-long Eco Ferry, with capacity for 149 passengers, has a top speed of 20 knots and will be equipped with the ‘Hybrid-Drive’ system which BMT has developed together with BAE Systems.
The vessel will have a 160-kWh energy storage system providing silent and vibration-free power which can be charged when the diesel engines are in operation, by an array of solar panels on the roof, and when the vessel is alongside. In a case study of a river commute in New York, the Eco Ferry’s engines were not required for 63% of the time.
John Bonafoux, BMT’s managing director, commented: “It’s an all-round, nicer experience for passengers. The Eco Ferry glides in and out of dock silently and smoke-free, completely under electric power. No longer will there be noise and diesel fumes at the dock as passengers embark and disembark.”
BMT-designed ferries are in operation in various major ports including Amsterdam, London, New York and Washington.
