Written by Nick Blenkey
Image: AAM
All American Marine (AAM), a shipbuilder based in Bellingham, Washington, has been awarded a contract to construct a 63-foot hybrid catamaran for the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San). Designed for the coastline of Southern California and incorporating ABB hybrid technology, the vessel will facilitate OC San’s environmental monitoring, marine research, and ocean sampling efforts as part of its ocean monitoring program. This program has been operational for over 40 years, ensuring the safety of ocean waters for swimming, marine ecosystems, and fishing activities while supporting wastewater collection, treatment, disposal, and recycling services for about 90 days each year.
The vessel, designed by Teknicraft, will feature a Teledyne acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP), an Okeanus dual-drum winch, and a specially designed A-frame. Its spacious deck will house more than 10 scientists, while the main cabin will provide both dry and wet labs, along with living accommodations for extended research missions.
This vessel will be constructed to fulfill the California Air Resources Board (CARB) annual equivalence requirements for Zero-Emission Capable Hybrid Vessels, which require that at least 30% of the annual power usage come from zero-emission sources.
Featuring a hybrid propulsion system powered by Cummins QSB 6.7 engines in combination with ABB’s hybrid technology, the vessel will be outfitted with dual propulsion permanent magnet motors. These motors will be energized by a 588 kW BorgWarner battery Energy Storage System (ESS), delivering the zero-emission power necessary to comply with CARB regulations.
The auxiliary generators supplying charging power will be sound-insulated to reduce noise pollution, creating a quieter working environment for scientists in both the wet and dry lab areas.
“We are excited to collaborate with the Orange County Sanitation District on this groundbreaking project,” stated Ron Wille, President & COO of All American Marine. “This hybrid ocean sampling vessel will not only aid vital research and monitoring initiatives, but it also highlights our dedication to building vessels with hybrid and electric propulsion. We are eager to deliver a vessel that surpasses OC San’s expectations regarding performance and environmental stewardship.”
All American Marine has entrusted ABB with the contract to provide the hybrid-electric propulsion system, leveraging ABB’s vast experience in the engineering, supply, and systems integration of hybrid-electric vessels.
“This initiative signifies a major new investment by OC San in safeguarding public health and the environment and has been conceived with sustainability as a key focus,” remarked Wille. “We are pleased to collaborate with ABB, whose hybrid-electric propulsion system will enhance the vessel’s safety and energy efficiency.”
“We are delighted to partner with All American Marine on this new ocean sampling vessel,” explained Drew Orvieto, head of sales for marine systems in the U.S. at ABB Marine & Ports. “Our hybrid-electric propulsion technology is perfectly suited for a diverse range of vessel types, including those focused on environmental monitoring and research. ABB takes pride in collaborating with vessel operators and shipyards across the United States and globally to help them decarbonize their operations.”