AUSTRALIAN marine design company Incat Crowther has announced construction has commenced on a hybrid research vessel to operate in US Pacific Northwest.
The 15-metre catamaran is under construction at Snow & Company in Seattle, Washington. It will be operated by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
The low emissions vessel is designed to deliver practical outcomes on PNNL’s scientific missions requirements and align with its vision for a cleaner, safer future.
In a statement, Incat Crowther said it had developed a bespoke design offering “exceptional capability” for its size.
“The vessel’s 28 square-metre main deck is equipped with an A-Frame, boom crane and movable davit in addition to access to a foldable swim platform, extracting maximum functionality from the space,” Incat Crowther said.
“A set of stairs offer direct access from the main deck to the upper deck and flybridge, which affords excellent all-round visibility.
“The vessel can support the research of six scientists in a tailored layout containing multiple research workstations and convertible sleeping arrangements, providing PNNL a capable platform to efficiently carry out their research.”
Incat Crowther said the vessel will be powered by an advanced, parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system.
It said power will be stored using a state-of-the-art Spear Trident battery system, allowing the vessel to operate quietly in a zero-emission electric state while engaged in different survey operational modes.
“With this vessel, PNNL joins a growing list of operators taking advantage of Incat Crowther’s history of innovation in hybrid and low emissions technologies,” the company said.
“Our partnership with Snow and PNNL enhances the research capability of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.”
