Seaspan Reliant Ferry Will Operate Blue Whale Battery Starting In Summer 2021
The Seaspan Swift ferry
NANAIMO – Seaspan Ferries Corporation has reached an agreement with Corvus Energy for the first installation of its Corvus Blue Whale ESS energy storage system on its Seaspan Reliant cargo ferry.
Blue Whale is a new large-scale battery system designed for large ships with high zero-emission energy demand, such as cruise ships, large Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro ferries, and cargo ships.
Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
For its inaugural field trial, the Blue Whale battery system will be installed on board Seaspan Reliant, which was built in 2016 and sails the Gulf of Georgia between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland.
“Seaspan has been an important partner for Corvus Energy. They were amongst the first to install our batteries in North America. Their extensive experience on our battery systems and knowledgeable team makes them the ideal field trial partner,” says Sean Puchalski, EVP Strategy & Business Planning at Corvus Energy.
Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, an initiative of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, which is providing funding to the project. Salish Sea Marine Emission Reductions funding through Environment & Climate Change Canada also helped make the field trial possible.
The Blue Whale ESS features a rack-free design of stacking modular blocks, providing high volumetric battery room energy density that maximizes a ship owners’ passenger or payload opportunities.
“Although Seaspan Reliant is a relatively small vessel for a Blue Whale system and the retrofit will be done on a very tight schedule, the challenging conditions make it ideal for a trial site,” says Richard Wing, Corvus’ Chief Research and Development Officer. “Moving and situating the Blue Whale modules and pack controllers into the existing battery room will also test and validate the materials handling equipment and service tools we have developed.”
Installation of the new Blue Whale system is scheduled for Summer 2021, at which time Seaspan also plans to relocate the AT6500 system onto sister vessel, Seaspan Swift.
Blue Whale commissioning and trials will be carried out while the vessel is in full-service operation during the remaining months of 2021. With three and a half times the previous energy capacity, Seaspan will be able to expand the use of battery power beyond spinning reserve to also provide fuel-efficient peak shaving, load balancing, and even zero-emission operation on battery power only.
“The increased battery capacity will give us operational flexibility to enhance service levels while reducing emissions and fuel consumption,” says Harly Penner, Director of Fleet Renewal and Maintenance at Seaspan Ferries.
“Seaspan Ferries is committed to caring for the environment, and this is an exciting opportunity to play a role in the transformation of shipping towards a greener and more sustainable industry,” says Gord Miller, VP Seaspan Ferries.
The Blue Whale field trial and all key maritime authority certifications are expected to be completed by Spring 2022, at which time commercial deliveries will commence.
