New Zealand Intros Fully-Electric Ferry

New Zeland's multi-disciplined electrotechnology company McKay announced that they are to develop and implement the country's first plug-in fully electrical ferry along SSC Marine, which is planned to be built in Wellington.

According to the company statement, the ferry is the first of its kind in New Zealand and also in the entire southern hemisphere.

The project will consist of a modern, composite catamaran ferry using a McKay designed and installed power and energy management, energy storage system and electric propulsion systems. Project delivery is expected in the 4th quarter of 2019.

“The good news is electrotechnology is advancing and innovating, bringing with it sustainable solutions for the world’s sea-transport fleets. Here at McKay we are committed to discovering cutting edge electrotechnology solutions that allow our clients to achieve their sustainability goals. Our Research and Development team are committed to advancing our marine based solutions to suit both the New Zealand marine environment, as well as overseas markets” says Lindsay Faithfull, Managing Director at McKay.

With international shipping accounting for around 3% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, it is time for industry leaders to consider the effects this could have on long-term sustainability, the statement said.

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) warns that while other sectors, including land-based transport, make a move towards decarbonising, this 3% figure could quickly jump to over 17% by 2050 if no action is taken.

Fully electric ferries are the first step towards a sustainable future in the marine market with Electrek reporting that they could cut emissions by up to 95%. In addition, but long-term costs could potentially be reduced by up to 80% with rechargeable batteries eliminating costly fuel expenditure.