Built at a cost of USD 33 million, HARBOR CHARGER can carry 1,200 passengers and 30 cars. Designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, the new ferry was built by Conrad Shipyards, in Morgan City, Louisiana. The new hybrid-electric ferry will replace the 1956-built diesel-powered LT. SAMMUEL S. COURSEN, which will be retired from service at the end of 2025.

HARBOR CHARGER is operated by New York Waterways on behalf of the Trust for Governors Island and brings a faster and quieter service from the Battery Maritime Building slipway across to the 172-acre island situated in New York Harbour. The new ferry is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 70 per cent compared to the operator's diesel-powered vessels.

HARBOR CHARGER will also slash New York Waterways' typical USD 417,000 in annual fuel and electricity costs for the diesel-powered vessels.

At present the new hybrid-electric ferry will operate on both diesel and battery power for the next two years while a shore rapid power charging system is built and installed on Governors Island.

Siemens Energy has been responsible for HARBOR CHARGER'S BlueDrive Eco hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system; BlueVault advanced battery-based solution, comprising 122 lithium-ion batteries, and EcoMAIN real-time control platform, a technology platform that enables the operator to constantly monitor this state-of-the-art equipment.

Actual propulsion comes from Schottel 360 degree azimuthing thrusters.

The hybrid propulsion system will reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 600 tonnes annually, allowing the Trust to make groundbreaking progress on its net-zero emissions goals.

Once shore power charging is available, HARBOR CHARGER will reduce emissions by an additional 800 tonnes annually.

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