Hornblower Hybrid News

Hornblower Energy LLC, in partnership with the Port of San Franciso, the U.S. Department of Energy and six corporate partners, including Air Liquide and Glosten, is leading a project to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of using hydrogen (H2) as a maritime fuel.The project is located at Pier 68 in San Francisco. DOE selected the project for funding in 2020. It’s supposed to be completed in 2025 but there are important decision dates before then. So far, project activities have concentrated on planning and modeling.

Hornblower's Alcatraz City Cruises has selected Corvus Energy to supply the battery system for the Hornblower Hybrid NY passenger ferry.San Francisco based Alcatraz City Cruises was the first to introduce hybrid-powered passenger ferry service in the United States. Two vessels, the Alcatraz Flyer and the Alcatraz Clipper, currently offer transit to Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay. Completing multiple rounds per day, the operation carries thousands of passengers daily and nearly 1.7 million total annually powered by electric propulsion.

When it comes to complying with EPA’s Tier 4 emissions regulations, there’s no shortage of creativity emerging from America’s maritime engineering firms. Companies such as Hug Engineering are offering flexible, customized aftertreatment-based control systems that can assemble almost in modular like fashion. Other companies, such as ABB Group, offer battery-hybrid power sources to complement combustion power and avoid threshold diesel emissions. Engine manufacturers, such as Cummins…

The Hudson and East rivers are constantly abuzz with swarms of ferry, patrol, and cargo traffic. In August, New York hosted the Transportation Research Board’s ferry committee for a midyear conference. I was fortunate to be a guest presenter at this event and speak on behalf of vessel operations on the U.S. Marine Highways. With such high use on these historic waters, it was not surprising that much of the discussion circled back to the environment and vessel impact. When congress expanded the Marine Highways program in 2010, it was a big win for the marine industry. Funding new projects to merge people and freight off of the accident-prone and traffic-laced streets and onto unpaved highways is a philosophy we can all embrace.

Hornblower Hybrid, the first vessel powered by diesel, hydrogen, batteries, wind and solar energy, arrived in New York Harbor. After nearly two years of construction and the work of more than 300 individuals, the Hybrid will service New York City upon completion of United States Coast Guard sea trials and certifications. The innovative vessel reduces emissions, uses minimal diesel, and features several recycled and reclaimed materials, LEED-certified carpet and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Alcatraz Cruises, the National Park Service concessioner of ferry service to Alcatraz Island, has been awarded the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award in the category of Best Low Carbon Transport and Technology. Award winners were announced November 11 at the World Travel Market conference in London. Alcatraz Cruises was a finalist alongside the British website Seat61.com and the Swiss Railway company Swiss Travel System. Only one other US company was honored – Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. For more information on the other winners visit the Responsible Tourism Awards website (www.responsibletoursimawards.com). “Alcatraz Cruises has worked diligently to align all our operations with the best sustainable business models.

The San Francisco-based Hornblower Hybrid has been named a finalist in an international awards competition for Environmental Technology of the Year. Sustainable Shipping, an international online news and information resource, hosts the annual competition and will announce the 2009 winners at in London on July 15th, 2009. The Hornblower Hybrid, part of the Alcatraz Cruises fleet, is the first hybrid passenger vessel in the United States. The revolutionary design combines wind, diesel and electricity to power the vessel.