Electric propulsion for zero-emissions crew transfer vessels

Tidal Transit is converting one of its diesel-fuelled crew transfer vessels (CTVs) to become fully electric as part of a demonstration pilot project in the UK.

The UK-headquartered company’s co-founder and director, Leo Hambro, describes the reasons behind this project in an interview at Riviera’s Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cell Conference in Bergen, Norway.

Ginny Louise will be retrofitted with batteries to become E-Ginny, ready to test offshore charging at an offshore windfarm in 2025.

This is a demonstration of how CTVs can be fully electric in the future. Electric vessels will be commercially and technically viable if the business case is there and offshore charging is available to meet their operational profiles, says Mr Hambro.

He is hoping the trial goes well and demonstrates the benefits rapidly, so more governments can fund these projects and the technology becomes commercially available.