With its lush, mossy forests and environmentally conscious residents, the Pacific Northwest has a well-earned reputation for sustainability. A new hybrid-electric research boat should fit right in.
The 50-by-16-foot Resilience arrived at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Sequim, Wash., in July 2024. The aluminum catamaran designed by Incat Crowther and built by Snow & Company in Seattle will support myriad research conducted by the lab, which is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The vessel will perform a wide range of research, including acoustic testing, marine mammal observations and exploring the potential for generating electricity from wave energy and tides. “These investments in PNNL-Sequim will expand our ability to conduct coastal and oceanographic research and advance solutions for climate change, coastal resilience and national security,” Jud Virden, associate laboratory director for PNNL’s Energy and Environment Directorate, said in a statement.
The vessel features a hybrid-electric propulsion system that consists of twin 500-hp Volvo Penta D8 engines driving propellers through Twin Disc gearboxes, as well as Danfoss Editron electric motors paired with Spear Power Systems Trident lithium-ion batteries.
Resilience is capable of 28 knots under diesel power and more than 6 knots with the electric motors, which allow the vessel to run nearly silently through the water. Its 113-kilowatt-hours of battery storage allow for more than four hours of all-electric operation. Resilience is the first hybrid vessel in the Department of Energy fleet.
“This first-in-class electric hybrid vessel will greatly expand our R&D and testing capabilities and help us build new partnerships,” Christian Meinig, division director for PNNL’s Coastal Sciences Division, said in a statement.
The vessel will operate with a two-person crew, with space for six researchers. Its scientific equipment includes an A-frame with 5,000-pound capacity and crane that can lift 2,800 pounds. It also has a dry lab and observation stations on the flying bridge.