75% Reduction in Fuel Consumption for New Hybrid-Electric Vessel

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday October 1, 2014

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk in Connecticut has built a new research vessel that reduces its fuel consumption by roughly 75 percent, local media reports

The $2.7 million boat was said to be the only research vessel in the United States to run on hybrid-electric propulsion.

Christened late last week, Spirit of the Sound will focus its research in and around Long Island Sound, the estuary between Connecticut and Long Island. 

"By running on clean quiet power without emissions, The Maritime Aquarium will be practicing what we teach. And, with the larger capacity, we expect to double the number of school children who can experience our programming out on Long Island Sound," said President Jennifer Herring.

Spirit of the Sound was built at the Robert E. Derecktor Inc. shipyard in Mamaroneck, N.Y. and designed by Australian Incat Crowther.

In addition to having capacity for 60 people, it also has a climate-controlled classroom and an outdoor research space. 

Earlier this week U.S. government agencies also awarded a research institute with funds to explore reducing emissions using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel on The Great Lakes.