8 SEPTEMBER 2018 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: TECHNOLOGY long gone by. New blends are now available for commercial mariners that are less harmful to the environ- ment and may help users comply with Clean Air Act regulations. This is why Red and White Fleet is also using a renewable diesel fuel, 80 percent of which is converted from the raw materials of waste and residues that are typically considered of no value, and reprocessed into high quality fuel that displaces fossil diesel. New chemical technologies have made this possible for usage on vessels such as Red and White Fleet’s newest vessel, Enhydra, which is a hybrid diesel-elec- tric ferry. Rather than being a hindrance to the vessel’s operation, Alan Cull, Operations Manager at Red and White Fleet, reported that the renewable diesel is actually helpful. “It’s a positive impact on our maintenance cycles,” Cull said. Battery Technology The research behind innovative battery technologies is now being implemented in the passenger vessel industry and the results are impressive. Low or no emissions make for a cleaner environment and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Quieter operations means less intrusion for marine life and better experiences for passengers. Not surprisingly, the number of all- electric and hybrid passenger vessels is growing at rapid pace. The volatile price of fuel may be one good reason for operators to pioneer this emerging technology because all-electric vessels use no fossil fuels, and hybrids use sub- stantially less marine diesel fuel than conventional vessels. Alcatraz Hybrid was the first hybrid passenger vessel in the U.S. back in 2008. Since then, a number of PVA members have committed to adding all-electric and/or hybrids to their fleets. PVA Associate member American Traction Systems, a privately owned American firm based in Fort Myers, FL that designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems and ac- cessories for diesel-electric, battery and hybrid vessels, worked with PVA Vessel member Hornblower Cruises and Events in San Francisco to develop the technology that made the Alcatraz Hybrid a reality. This dual 300kW AC propulsion sightseeing vessel utilizes battery power when moored at the pier, reducing fuel consumption. Then, the Tier 2 diesel generators come online as necessary while underway, depending on the vessel load requirements. The vessel also features solar panels and wind turbines to augment the main generators. While that vessel was groundbreak- ing in its day, that was then, and this is now. ATS is now working on several projects, including a battery-only ferry that will operate inAlabama. New tech- nology will allow the ferry to operate all day on electricity with batteries sized for all-day service. While pas- sengers are loading, the ferry will take