RFP: Electrical Integrators Sought for Skagit Count All-Electric Ferry
Skagit County Public Works and Seattle-based vessel designer Glosten are seeking proposals from electrical integrators to provide the vessel and shore electrical systems and the automated charging plug for the all-electric ferry design to replace the M/V Guemes.The Washington State Legislature recently passed SHB1502, providing authority for the county to select this equipment during the vessel’s contract design. The selected integrator will be required in the bid specifications…
Vendors Sought to Inform Electric Ferry Design
Skagit County Public Works and vessel designer Glosten say they are seeking technical information and cost estimates from vendors to inform design decisions related to the electrical system, the propulsion system, the shore side electrical system, and the automated charging plug of the all-electric ferry design to replace the 41-year-old M/V Guemes currently in operation on the U.S. West Coast.“This is relatively new propulsion technology – we need to make sure we get this right.
Glosten to Design Electric Ferry for Skagit County
Washington’s Skagit County has selected Seattle based naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Glosten to design a new all-electric vehicle/passenger ferry. The new ferry will replace M/V Guemes, which has provided service between Anacortes and Guemes Island, Wash. since 1979, and is now nearing the end of its economic useful life. With a capacity of 99 passengers and 21 vehicles, the vessel forms a primary mode of transit for residents of and visitors to Guemes Island. “This ferry is a critical transportation link in our community,” said Captain Rachel Rowe, Ferry Operations Division Manager. Skagit County has a vision of replacing the aging Guemes with an all-electric vessel.
All-Electric Ferry Development Underway
Art Anderson Associates and partner EESImarine have been developing concepts for an all-electric ferry and are now teaming to generate funding for the implementation of the concept for Skagit County’s Guemes Island-Anacortes passenger and car ferry replacement. After careful study of the Guemes Island Ferry route, Art Anderson Associates proposed to the Skagit County Board of Commissioners the all-electric ferry as a viable replacement for their aging ferry with additional benefits of reducing the lifecycle costs and environmental impacts a traditional diesel ferry would have. The Skagit County Board of Commissioners signed a resolution on December 29, 2015 directing its Public Works Department to conduct an all-electric ferry feasibility study with Art Anderson Associates.
