Ecomar Propulsion and Kuasar UK have announced a partnership to design 100% emission-free commercial ships.
The first design to be released is for the Bluewake 150, the first in the Bluewake ferry range.
“We are absolutely delighted to publicly announce our new partnership and product lines,” said Ecomar Propulsion CEO Eugene Bari. “The complementary skills of Kuasar UK and Ecomar Propulsion mean that we can offer off-the-shelf designs for commercially viable zero-emission vessels that meet all class requirements.”
Noyan Kilinç, the CEO of Kuasar UK, said, “As a young naval design house, we believe that collaboration with pragmatic advanced technology companies like Ecomar Propulsion enhances our position as a global leader in advanced ship design.”
The partners plan to create more market-ready ships for use across the globe. “We are open for business,” said Ecomar’s CTO, Nik Lekkas. “This is the first of many designs we are planning that increase the Bluewake portfolio of new technology, commercial ferries and other civil marine ships.”
The vessels are powered by e-motors featuring Ecomar Kairos electric drives. According to the partners, the digital control systems and integrated energy management make the ship highly efficient and more cost-effective than almost any ICE vessel.
Kilinç added, “We have build slots available for composite and aluminum vessels to be delivered in around 14 months. The cost is managed on the basis of the specific needs of our customers.”
The ferry has been designed with modular battery clusters coming in different power ranges, with options to include an advanced hydrogen package. It features fully integrated electronic systems that generate instant performance.
“Foiling is fine for small boats, but we are aiming at bigger boats dealing with heavier payloads that replace fossil-fueled vessels operating in coastal and populated waters,” said Bari. “Reliability sometimes is more important than pure speed.”
In related news, VIDEO: Incat, Wärtsilä and Molslinjen highlight large-scale electric ferry project