2022-11-08
From General Energies Electric Ship Technology's Italian studio, operating electric ferries in New York
The zero-emission ferry will feature the iconic yellow and black paint job of New York water taxis. This New York water taxi adopts the iconic yellow and black paint.
New York Cruise Lines and Sweden’s Green City Ferries AB (GCF) announced today their partnership to launch the first high-speed zero-emission electric ferry operating in New York Harbor. The vessel is targeted for launch in the spring of 2024 and will operate under the iconic yellow and black branding of New York Cruise Lines’ subsidiary, New York Water Taxi, on the Hudson River between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The vessel will be a Beluga24 model, planned for launch in New York City, with a capacity of 147 passengers and 28 bicycles. It will feature a carbon fiber structure and Teknicraft’s hydrofoil design, known for low wake characteristics at high speeds. The overall design of the ship comes from the Italian Sculli studio (an Italian partner of Junye Electric Ship Technology). The propulsion system includes a British BAE drive system, Echandia power management, Toshiba batteries, and Hamilton high-speed water jets. GCF claims its exclusive technology creates the most energy-efficient, lightweight, high-speed ferry on the market, with the fastest turnaround time. These features optimize uptime, reduce maintenance costs, eliminate fossil fuels, and most importantly, lower operational costs compared to diesel vessels.
The partnership with New York Cruise Lines and New York Water Taxi will be GCF’s first customer in the United States but not the first commercial deployment of the Beluga24, which is scheduled to begin operation in Stockholm, Sweden, in early 2023.
“As leaders and innovators in the international maritime industry, we are very excited to bring our technology to New York City. The Beluga24 offers New Yorkers a luxurious, zero-emission experience with our ultra-quiet, high-speed, low-vibration, fast-charging vessel. Our passengers’ expectations of zero-emission maritime transport will be forever changed when they first ride our sleek, fast, and efficient ferry,” said Hans Thornell, Chairman of Green City Ferries.
This partnership will produce the first high-speed, zero-emission electric ferry manufactured in the United States, promoting domestic job opportunities and economic growth in the shipbuilding industry. “New York Water Taxi has always been committed to bringing cleaner, more efficient ferry services to New York Harbor, and we have found the right partner in Green City Ferries. We can’t wait to excite our passengers with this ultra-luxurious, zero-emission experience and collectively change the public’s perception of how ferries can improve life in our city and around the world,” said Craig Kanarick, CEO of New York Cruise Lines.
The advantages of this high-speed, zero-emission electric ferry are ideal for the transportation services that New York Water Taxi operates for NYU Langone Health Center, running all day between Manhattan’s East Side and Brooklyn’s Sunset Park.
“NYU Langone Health is thrilled to have the opportunity to add high-speed, zero-emission ferries to our fleet once she is operational,” said Paul Schwabacher, Senior Vice President of Facilities Management at NYU Langone Health. “This will be an environmentally friendly option that helps reduce pollution and supports the health and well-being of our patients, staff, and community.”
“Our supplier proactively offering us this technology is significant and symbolizes the type of partnerships aligned with our ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” Schwabacher added.s
New York Cruise Lines and Sweden’s Green City Ferries AB (GCF) announced today their partnership to launch the first high-speed zero-emission electric ferry operating in New York Harbor. The vessel is targeted for launch in the spring of 2024 and will operate under the iconic yellow and black branding of New York Cruise Lines’ subsidiary, New York Water Taxi, on the Hudson River between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The vessel will be a Beluga24 model, planned for launch in New York City, with a capacity of 147 passengers and 28 bicycles. It will feature a carbon fiber structure and Teknicraft’s hydrofoil design, known for low wake characteristics at high speeds. The overall design of the ship comes from the Italian Sculli studio (an Italian partner of Junye Electric Ship Technology). The propulsion system includes a British BAE drive system, Echandia power management, Toshiba batteries, and Hamilton high-speed water jets. GCF claims its exclusive technology creates the most energy-efficient, lightweight, high-speed ferry on the market, with the fastest turnaround time. These features optimize uptime, reduce maintenance costs, eliminate fossil fuels, and most importantly, lower operational costs compared to diesel vessels.
The partnership with New York Cruise Lines and New York Water Taxi will be GCF’s first customer in the United States but not the first commercial deployment of the Beluga24, which is scheduled to begin operation in Stockholm, Sweden, in early 2023.
“As leaders and innovators in the international maritime industry, we are very excited to bring our technology to New York City. The Beluga24 offers New Yorkers a luxurious, zero-emission experience with our ultra-quiet, high-speed, low-vibration, fast-charging vessel. Our passengers’ expectations of zero-emission maritime transport will be forever changed when they first ride our sleek, fast, and efficient ferry,” said Hans Thornell, Chairman of Green City Ferries.
This partnership will produce the first high-speed, zero-emission electric ferry manufactured in the United States, promoting domestic job opportunities and economic growth in the shipbuilding industry. “New York Water Taxi has always been committed to bringing cleaner, more efficient ferry services to New York Harbor, and we have found the right partner in Green City Ferries. We can’t wait to excite our passengers with this ultra-luxurious, zero-emission experience and collectively change the public’s perception of how ferries can improve life in our city and around the world,” said Craig Kanarick, CEO of New York Cruise Lines.
The advantages of this high-speed, zero-emission electric ferry are ideal for the transportation services that New York Water Taxi operates for NYU Langone Health Center, running all day between Manhattan’s East Side and Brooklyn’s Sunset Park.
“NYU Langone Health is thrilled to have the opportunity to add high-speed, zero-emission ferries to our fleet once she is operational,” said Paul Schwabacher, Senior Vice President of Facilities Management at NYU Langone Health. “This will be an environmentally friendly option that helps reduce pollution and supports the health and well-being of our patients, staff, and community.”
“Our supplier proactively offering us this technology is significant and symbolizes the type of partnerships aligned with our ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” Schwabacher added.