Breaux Brothers Enterprises Inc., shipbuilders based in New Iberia, La., turned over the hull of a new hybrid-electric tour boat under construction for Port Houston.
The 73ʹ aluminum catamaran is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and will be used for public maritime education and industry awareness tours of the Houston Ship Channel. With a capacity of 150 passengers, the new ship holds 60 more guests than the vessel it will replace.
By constructing the hull of the Subchapter T vessel upside down, welders were able to work more easily on the outer plating. With that stage of construction complete, cranes were used to lift the hull and rotate the structure. The next phase of the build will include installation of the hybrid propulsion system, plumbing, and the interior passenger spaces.
Fellow PVA member Incat Crowther designed the newbuild which will be equipped with a Twin Disc battery hybrid propulsion system featuring two 265-kW propulsion motors that will drive fixed-pitch propellers through Twin Disc MGE-5065 SC gearboxes. The vessel will have a maximum speed of 12 knots.
The vessel’s energy storage system has a capacity of 768 kWh which allows the ship to run solely on battery power during its standard two-hour educational tours. Not only does this mean lower emissions, but it will also offer a quieter ride for an enhanced guest experience. Custom shoreside charging system equipped with AC/DC converters will be used to recharge the vessel between trips. To ensure reliability and extended range when needed, the vessel will also include two Caterpillar C9.3 backup generators, each producing 300 kW, for added operational flexibility.
In addition to lowering emissions, accessibility was a core focus for the design of the new build. The main deck will feature seating for 68 passengers, including two wheelchair-accessible spaces, within an air-conditioned cabin that also includes a kiosk, an information counter, and four bathrooms. The upper deck will seat 81 passengers, with about 90 percent of seats covered. Its layout supports easy movement and accessibility, while the large wheelhouse on the upper deck offers the captain and crew full 360-degree visibility.