Maritime Aquarium selects Northern Lights’ Hybrid Marine for its floating school house

Northern Lights, an industry leader in marine power, propulsion and HVACR has announced that its Hybrid Marine system has been selected to power the new “floating schoolhouse” for the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Conn.

The Maritime Aquarium’s new 65-foot research vessel, designed by Incat Crowther will be used throughout Long Island Sound to entertain and inform aquarium patrons.  Installing the Hybrid Marine system allows the vessel the clean, reliable propulsion it needs to travel out into the Sound.

By utilising stored energy it can remain under quiet, eco-friendly power during extended periods of at-sea education, and because the same system provides the vessel’s AC electrical power, it alleviates the need for running an additional genset.

Northern Lights Hybrid Marine utilises the world’s most successful series hybrid; one with millions of miles of on-road operational service.  It provides power via tested, reliable Lugger L1064A propulsion engines with integrated starter generators (ISG).  Energy is held in an energy storage module (ESM) and metered through a power control system (PCS).  

The traction motor is attached to the propeller shaft; but the remaining components can be installed in the engine room. With its flexible architecture, Hybrid Marine can be designed for electric propulsion, shipboard AC power, or both, as in the case of the Maritime Aquarium vessel.

Mike Maynard, vice president of Northern Lights said, “The entire package is designed to be clean, quiet and environmentally responsible.  Our hybrid marine solution eliminates wet stacking and will reduce both energy waste and fuel costs.”

The Maritime Aquarium annually provides 10,000 school children with the opportunity to learn more about the world’s waterways in an at-sea application.  Now, thanks to Northern Lights Hybrid Marine they can do so in a clean, economical, ecologically advanced manner.

For further information, visit http://www.northern-lights.com/.