New parallel-hybrid California passenger vessel to sail with zero emissions

California’s Harbor Breeze Cruises has taken delivery of a new 350-passenger, parallel hybrid-battery-propelled vessel capable of zero-emissions operation.

Designed by Teknicraft Design and built by All American Marine, Bellingham, Washington, El Escudo meets strict US federal and state emissions regulations. Sailing from Long Beach and Los Angeles on harbour tours, whale-watch cruises, and special event dining experiences, the 33-m low-emissions vessel complies with US EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards. A Zero-Emission Advanced Technology (ZEAT) vessel, El Escudo will have the capability to operate a minimum of 30% of the time in zero-emission mode.

Harbor Breeze Cruises owner and operator, Dan Salas, said El Escudo “sets a new standard for passenger vessels – not only in design and build quality, but also propulsion technology that truly moves the industry toward a cleaner future.”

An optimised hull design, full integration of advanced exhaust aftertreatment systems, and a parallel hybrid propulsion architecture enable the vessel to achieve zero-emissions operation during low-speed harbour operations.

It has a highly integrated propulsion system that combines selective catalytic reduction technology and diesel particulate filters, with a parallel hybrid battery propulsion system supplied by ABB. The propulsion system incorporates two 300-kW electric traction motors and a 588-kW Borg Warner energy storage system.

For extended range operation, the vessel is equipped with two EPA Tier 4-compliant MAN D2862 diesel engines that drive fixed-pitch propellers through a remotely mounted Reintjes gearbox.

The vessel’s parallel hybrid-battery propulsion offers four distinct operational modes: conventional diesel propulsion, fully electric zero-emissions propulsion, underway battery charging, and stationary shoreside battery charging.

Funding support is provided through CARB’s Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects grant for the Los Angeles Marine Emission Reduction (LA MER) Project.