NIAGARA FALLS, New York–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Niagara Falls tour operator Maid of the Mist orders two new
passenger vessels sailing on pure electric power, enabled by ABB’s
technology
Visitors to the iconic Niagara Falls will soon be able to experience one
of the US’s top landmarks emission-free. Two new Maid of the Mist
passenger vessels will be powered entirely by high-capacity battery
packs, becoming the first all-electric vessels ever built in the US.
The new vessels will benefit from ABB’s zero-emission technology when
they start operating later this year, allowing guests to experience
Niagara Falls undisturbed by engine noise, vibration or exhaust fumes
from a conventional diesel engine.
Maid of the Mist, one of North America’s oldest tourist
attractions, operates from April through to the first week of November,
with boats departing for the base of Niagara Falls every 30 minutes,
with an estimated 1.6 million guests on board annually.
“We are thrilled to be the US’s first vessel owner to add all-electric
ferries to our fleet,” said Christopher M. Glynn, president of Maid of
the Mist Corp. “We have chosen ABB to support us in our journey towards
more sustainable operation based on their unparalleled experience in
marine system integration, as well as efficient and innovative
technologies for sustainable transportation.”
“Maid of the Mist’s decisive move towards e-mobility signals a
new era in the future of transportation and complements ABB’s commitment
to power the world without consuming the earth,” said Peter Terwiesch,
President of the Industrial Automation business at ABB, which offers
solutions for a wide range of industries, including marine. “Reducing
emissions at Niagara Falls is not only important for the natural
landmark, but also proves that the technologies enabling sustainable
mobility are already available today.”
Each of the vessels will be powered by a pair of battery packs with a
total capacity of 316 kWh, split evenly between two catamaran hulls.
Having two fully independent power systems on board will increase the
resilience of operations by creating a redundancy.
The vessels will charge between every trip while passengers disembark
and board. Shoreside charging will only take seven minutes, allowing the
batteries to power the electric propulsion motors capable of a total 400
kW (563 HP) output. The power setup will be controlled by ABB’s
integrated Power and Energy Management System (PEMS), which will
optimize the energy use on board.
The batteries will be charged using hydropower – the largest single
renewable energy source for electricity generation in the US, which
accounts for 7 percent of the country’s total utility-scale electricity
generation. The use of locally produced renewable power will make the
energy cycle for the operation of the new Maid of the Mist
vessels entirely emission-free.
Sustainable transportation has a crucial role in the fight against
climate change, with shipping accounting for 2 to 3 percent of the
world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime
Organization, a United Nations agency responsible for regulating
shipping, has set a global target to cut annual emissions by at least 50
percent by 2050 from 2008 levels.
In addition to integrating the ship-to-shore battery charging
connection, ABB will supply the Maid of the Mist newbuilding
project with switchboards, drives and the integrated control system, as
well as the ABB Ability™ Marine Remote Diagnostic System for remote
equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance. ABB
Ability™ is ABB’s leading offering of digital solutions and services.
To watch the video, click here.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a
comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of
innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in
digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading
businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics
& Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital
platform. ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to
Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about
147,000 employees. www.abb.com
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