Senesco Marine starts building Casco Bay Lines ferry

Hybrid-electric vessel was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group and will feature technology from ABB

Senesco Marine starts building Casco Bay Lines ferry

Elliot Bay Design Group

The new hybrid-electric vessel will improve air quality between Portland and Peaks Island in Maine, USA

By Alice Chambers |


Ferry operator Casco Bay Lines has contracted shipyard Senesco Marine in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA, to build its new hybrid-electric ferry, which was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group (EBDG).

EBDG has worked on this project for Casco Bay Lines since 2018 and the contract meets operational requirements of increased passenger demand and reduced emission production. The final design is a result of a propulsion selection study to compare various propulsion systems including capital cost, operating cost, reliability, serviceability, carbon dioxide emissions, in-port noise and exhaust generation.

The new vessel will be powered by a hybrid propulsion system that supports both diesel-electric and battery-powered modes, as well as a combination of both. ABB, a provider of electrical power distribution and automation, will supply a Stemmann Technik FerryCharger shore charging system so that the vessel can charge quickly while harboured at Portland. By combining these technologies, the new vessel will produce 800 tons less carbon dioxide each year than the diesel-powered ferry, Machigonne II, that it is replacing on the route between Portland and Peaks Island.

The ferry will have capacity for 599 passengers and 15 vehicles across three decks. Its double-ended design means that it does not need to during berthing, which reduces the required speed and energy consumption of the vessel.

Casco Bay Lines aims to begin operating the ferry in 2024.

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