149-Passenger Hybrid Hybrid Hauler Hornblower’s new ferry is more than just a nice ride.

The new hybrid ferry gets its power from several sources.

BY KEN HOCKE, ith the recent push to conserve energy Flyer on the new route. The company billed the SENIOR EDITOR and “go green,” it’s not surprising that two as the “greenest boats on San Fran- Whybrid power is becoming very fashion- cisco Bay.” able. What is surprising, however, is the speed in Now the company has taken the next step by which the marine industry is embracing the new acquiring an aluminum Gulf of Mexico commer- technology. cial dive boat, converting it into a hybrid ferry, Hornblower Cruises & Events In 2005, -based Hornblower and placing it in service. The Hornblower Hybrid Cruises & Events was awarded a 10-year contract is a 149-passenger, 64'×30' catamaran that uses a to provide water and land transportation services combination of diesel-powered Tier 2 generators, for . The electric motors, vertical-axis wind turbines, and contract stipulated that Hornblower include ferries photovoltaic solar panels to power it around the in its !eet that were built or re"tted to a higher bay. The retro"t, repower and refurbishment took level of environmental standards. Not only did several months to complete at Bayside Boat- Hornblower accept the challenge, it ran with it. works in Sausalito, Calif. Almost 90 percent of Alcatraz Cruises, a Hornblower business unit, the former dive boat was re"tted. The boat’s "nal moved quickly to put its 700-passenger, diesel- price tag was around $3 million. electric-powered Alcatraz Clipper and Alcatraz “We funded this vessel ourselves — no spon-

42 www.workboat.comtAPRIL 2009tWORKBOAT sors, grants or government money,” stoking two Mara- said Hornblower’s CEO Terry MacRae. thon 320-kw genera- “We’re hopeful that people are inspired tors that power two by this innovation and more money Yoskawa variable becomes available for exploring new, frequency drives. The green technologies for the maritime drives control the industry. This is stimulus that promotes output of two 400-hp sustainability, provides jobs, and will electric motors. The be enjoyed by many people for years to electric motors are come.” connected to 4-blad- ed, 33"×30" wheels. POWER SOURCES In addition, there is The main idea behind the Hornblow- a 380-volt DC battery er Hybrid is its ability to use alternative bank, two 1.2-kw technology to power not only a more (2-kw maximum) environmentally friendly vessel, but normal output 10' tall also a ferry that doesn’t sell out its ef- wind turbines, and fectiveness as a workboat to go green. a 1.2-kw solar array It’s got enough power to reach a service panel. “The wind speed of 10 knots, and that’s usually turbines can be out in The ferry has two verti- accomplished with a single engine, 80- to 90-mile-per- cal--axis wind turbines. saving energy and cutting down on the hour winds and be Hornblower Cruises & Events release of particulate matter. "ne,” said Moorhead. “When we’re underway, we only The cleaner, fuel-ef"cient engines the most bang for the buck. “It’s an have to run one engine,” said Keir were installed to reduce fuel consump- electric-diesel. It can use only one Moorhead, one of Hornblower’s project tion, emissions, and the ferry’s overall generator,” said Moorhead. Power from managers for the new ferry. “We can carbon footprint. The customized drive the wind turbines and solar panel are force everything under one engine.” system lets the captain monitor the stored in battery banks that power the Hornblower didn’t have to look far Hornblower Hybrid’s energy needs navigation tools, lighting, and other to "nd the people it needed to cobble and choose the most ef"cient power electronic needs. Any excess power these different modes of power into a sources. that is produced is stored in the main single source. The company’s in-house When the boat is idling at the dock, propulsion battery banks. engineering department handled the de- for example, the engines shut off and ZF Cruise Command with propri- sign, planning and engineering chores. the motors run off the energy stored in etary power management handled the “We found a boat and repurposed it, banks. “House batteries run control system responsibilities. instead of building new,” said Moor- all the equipment inside,” said Moor- head. “We’ve gone out of our way to head, “or while at the dock we can plug EDUCATIONAL TOOL make it easy to run.” into shore power.” The Hornblower Hybrid began its The propulsion system is made up Hornblower’s architectural and Alcatraz and Angel islands combina- of twin Series 60 MTU Tier 2 diesels engineering team was looking to get tion tours on a limited basis in mid-

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March. Daily tours are scheduled to be- Angel Island has been a "shing and during World War II both German and gin on Memorial Day. Before the new hunting site for the Miwok Indians, Japanese POWs were held there. ferry went into service, Hornblower a cattle ranch, and a U.S. Army post. Alcatraz is most famous for its use as of"cials said they had carried three mil- From 1910 to 1940, thousands of im- a federal penitentiary. lion passengers to Alcatraz Island since migrants, mostly from China, were Hornblower of"cials saw an oppor- winning the Park Service contract. processed through the island, and tunity to use its new hybrid ferry as an educational tool as well. “We always planned for the boat to be educational,” HORNBLOWER HYBRID SPECIFICATIONS said Hornblower spokesperson Tegan Owner: Alcatraz Cruises/Hornblower prietary power management and control Firth. “We wanted to share with them Cruises & Events system a little history of the boat and ways we Designer: Tri-Kat Marine Inc. (original hull Speed (Knots): 10 made this boat environmentally friendly. design); Hornblower Cruises & Events Hull Construction: Aluminum It’s a really engaging process. We want (hybrid system design) Passenger Capacity/Crew Capacity: people to know about it.” Mission: Ferry service, education 149/6 Passengers can read about the Length: 64' Tankage (Gallons): Fuel, 1,000; water, ferry’s theme on a large display in the Beam: 30' 500 wheelhouse. “This boat is much more Draft: 5'8" Ancillary Equipment/Systems: 1.2-kw than just the propulsion system,” said Main Propulsion: (2) Reliance 3-phase AC solar array; (2) 1.2-kw vertical-axis wind Moorhead. “We really wanted it to be a induction motor, 400 hp @ 1,100 rpm turbines; (2) 380VDC battery banks for learning platform.” Ship’s Service Power: (2) MTU Series 60, propulsion. One of the boat’s most popular with Marathon 320-kw generator Classification/Certification: U.S. Coast educational tools is an exercise bike Propeller: (2) 33"x30", 4-bladed Guard, Subchapter T hooked up to a miniature, functioning Controls: ZF Cruise Command with pro- Delivery Date: October 2008 representation of the same system that directs solar and wind turbine power to

      

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44 www.workboat.comtAPRIL 2009tWORKBOAT the battery pack. Passengers can peddle the bike and actually generate power for the boat’s batteries. “The bike is very popular with the kids,” said Firth. On the materials side of the project, the Hornblower Hybrid features Vetraz- zo countertops throughout the vessel made from pieces of recycled bottles. “In the main cabin, the counter top is made from Skye vodka bottles with one Heineken bottle,” said Moorhead. The carpet contains recycled materi- als and is itself recyclable. Most of the The educational cycle stores power in the boat’s batteries. interior signage is printed on plyboo, a Hornblower Cruises & Events composite material made from sustain- criteria for recycled content. Moorhead. “Are you really making the ably grown bamboo, not chemicals. The vessel’s main goal is to get best use of the energy you use 24 hours Moorhead said LED "xtures light the passengers around a day? It should really make people main deck and pilothouse, requiring a safely and comfortably, and maybe think about the technology in your fraction of the energy of standard bulbs give them something to think about home and other industries.” and provide an equal or greater amount after they disembark. Hornblower is planning a second of illumination. “All the lighting in here “What we would like is for people to hybrid ferry for San Francisco and one comes from !orescent tubes that have just look at some of the things they’re for its New York-based Statue Cruises. no mercury in them,” he said. using at home, and maybe there are The company expects those ferries All the interior modi"cations meet things they can do at home [to make it to meet or exceed the abilities of the the U.S. Green Building Council LEED more environmentally friendly],” said Hornblower Hybrid. INJURED AT SEA? Special Maritime Contingency Fee Rate — 331/3 %* (Not 40% or more of gross recovery, as some lawyers charge)

t/P3FDPWFSZ /P'FF t"TTJTUBODFJOPCUBJOJOHMFHBMmOBODJOHXIJMF you’re disabled t&YQFSJFODFEBENJSBMUZBUUPSOFZT t3FQSFTFOUBUJPO/BUJPOXJEF www.hofmannlawfirm.com Hofmann & Associates 360 W 31st St. New York, NY 10001

Hofmann & Associates 1130 Route 202 South, Suite A7 Raritan, NJ 08869 Call Hofmann & Associates and the SOS Legal Network for a free consultation National 24-Hour SOS Helpline 1-800-3-MAY DAY (1-800-362-9329) Blue and Brown Water Seamen Fisherman Marine Construction Oilfield Passengers and Pleasure Boaters * Fees computed after deduction of costs, disbursements and litigation expenses. If no recovery, ethics rules require clients to remain liable for litigation expenses, costs and disbursements. In NJ, the fee on the first $500,000 of recovery is 33-1/3%, 30% on next $500,000; 25% on the next $500,000, 20% on next $500,000 and for greater amounts, as set by the court. www.workboat.comtAPRIL 2009tWORKBOAT 45