New Tall Ship to Feature Hybrid Propulsion System

The San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit, Educational Tall Ship Program has ordered a 100kWh energy storage system (ESS) from Corvus Energy as a part of a hybrid electric propulsion system on board its new, 132-foot Brigantine tall ship, the Matthew Turner, which is currently under construction in Sausalito. 

The Educational Tall Ship Program together with a sister organization, Call of the Sea, are both dedicated to utilizing tall ships to provide on-the-water education for local students, including classes in sailing, marine ecology and maritime history. The Matthew Turner will be the second tall ship in the fleet, joining the 82-foot Schooner Seaward.

The Corvus Energy ESS will be combined with an electric propulsion system designed and installed by BAE Systems.  When not under sail, the ship will be propelled by electric motors directly connected to the propeller shafts and drawing energy from the Corvus ESS, instead of diesel engines. When the ship is under sail, the energy of the passing water will cause the propellers to rotate, which, in turn, will cause the electric motors to become generators that re-charge the Corvus ESS. The ship will also be charged from the grid and solar panels when at the dock.

“Corvus and BAE Systems have been collaborating together on developing power and propulsion systems that are more fuel efficient, providing ship owners with a lower cost of ownership, and reducing the impact on the environment,” says Allan Grant, vice president of Business Development at Corvus Energy.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Corvus Energy adds significant value to our hybrid system programs, and we look forward to continuing that work,” said Yesh Premkumar, project manager of Fuel Cell and Maritime Programs at BAE Systems.

“Educational Tall Ship sees the Corvus ESS as a key piece of the Matthew Turner, which will help us achieve our innovative vision,” said Alan Olson, executive director, Educational Tall Ship.  “The electric drive on the vessel will visibly demonstrate to the youth how it is possible to marry old and new technology to create something unique, useful and environmentally sustainable.”