Scottish yard to build two hybrid Ropax ferries

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has announced that Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, Scotland as the preferred bidder for the contract to build the world’s first two seagoing Roll-on/Roll-off vehicle and passenger (Ropax) diesel electric hybrid ferries.

Ferguson will be working alongside Glasgow based ship design specialists Seatec and electrical specialists Tec-Source to deliver the project.

The announcement follows confirmation of Scottish Government funding to CMAL for the Low Emission Hybrid Ferries Project in February and a recent tender process, which led to a number of Scottish and European shipyards submitting responses for the contract.

Each ferry will be designed to accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars or two HGVs, with a service speed of nine knots and will be powered by small diesel generator sets, feeding power to a 400 volt switchboard, which will supply power to electric propulsion motors that turn the propulsion units. In addition two battery banks with a total of 700 kWh will also be able supply power to the units reducing fuel and CO2 consumption by at least 20%. The battery banks will be charged overnight from the shoreside power supply. It is hoped that in the future energy from local wind, wave or solar systems will be used to charge the batteries.

Guy Platten, Chief Executive of CMAL commented: “This project provides a fantastic commercial opportunity for Scottish shipbuilding and we are delighted to announce Ferguson as the preferred bidder for the contract to build the world’s first sea going RORO passenger hybrid ferry.

“CMAL is committed to leading the way in innovative ferry design and building for the future and we hope to see the first of these vessels in operation in early 2013.”

Commenting at the official announcement today  at Ferguson Shipyard in Port Glasgow, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure & Capital Investment Alex Neil said: “I’m delighted to announce that we have awarded Ferguson Shipbuilders with a £20m contract to build the world’s first hybrid ferries, which will not only secure around 75 existing jobs in the Port Glasgow and Inverclyde area, but create around 100 more. In addition we expect Ferguson to create around 20 new apprenticeships directly as a result of this contract.”

Hybrid Ferries Presentation

November 3, 2011